Celebrate Your Life

It's graduation season. A couple good friends of mine have recently completed specialized college programs and it's time to graduate. As I talked with one of them recently, she expressed aloud what many of us as adults succumb to: that is, the idea that graduation ceremonies are just for kids. Nothing could be further from the truth!

As human beings (from young to old) we need to honor and acknowledge ourselves for a job well done or the completion of a major accomplishment. Graduation ceremonies, parties or simply quiet celebrations are rites of passage we need and deserve to take. Yet celebrating our accomplishments is one of the most difficult things for many of us to do. Somehow we've adopted the misguided notion that it's egotistical, self-centered or even childish to celebrate ourselves.

I learned a valuable lesson on this many years ago when I was taking karate. I had the good fortune of working with an instructor named "Mr. G." He went to the same school of wisdom as Mr. Miyagi of "Karate Kid" fame. Anyway, after I had tested for and passed one of the lower level belts I commented to him how proud I was of myself. He said something I've never forgotten: "If we don't celebrate our own accomplishments we end up spending our time and energy doing things to get others to acknowledge us and continually trying to prove ourselves."

I've never forgotten his message, but there have been plenty of times I've failed to practice it! And just as Mr. G so wisely pointed out, those times when I haven't acknowledged my accomplishments, I've exhausted my energies doing things in hopes that others would see and acknowledge me for them.

How about you? Are you celebrating and acknowledging yourself for the things you've accomplished whether completing a course, a degree or just wrapping up a big project you've spent lots of time and energy on?

Don't wait for others to celebrate you. Start today giving yourself credit, celebrating your success and basking in the glow of your own accomplishment. Another wonderful mentor and teacher of mine, Jinny Ditzler, creator of Best Year Yet points out that it's actually by celebrating our accomplishments that we get the fuel and energy to move confidently into our next big project or goal. By all means, invite others to join your celebration but don't wait "hoping" that someone else will finally give you the recognition and credit you deserve.

Go ahead and take a bow. Have a party. Give yourself a gift. Attend the ceremony. Celebrate your life. You deserve it!

Quote of the Week:

"I hope your dreams take you...to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities and to the most special places your heart has ever known."
~~Anonymous

Living a Five Star Life

I have been celebrating a milestone of my own since my book, "Living a Five Star Life" was released in January of this year. If you're looking for a graduation or birthday gift for someone, or simply a tool to help you focus your own energies on what's worth celebrating in your life I hope you'll take a look at this book. And if you've already purchased a copy, I celebrate and thank you!

"Transforming Your Potential into Performance!"
Betty Mahalik, PCC Life & Business Coach, Trainer bettym@dynamic-coaching.com www.dynamic-coaching.com	Dynamic Solutions 5240 Mustang St. Las Vegas, NV 89130 tel: 702 658-4425 fax: 702 658-5802 mobile: 702 443-0175
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