Promote your achievements, don’t demote them

In the famous words of Heather Small, “what have you done today to make you feel proud?” Please tell me you sang that?! No? Just me then.

Why, as humans, do we find it so easy to belittle ourselves instead of being positive about our accomplishments? Why is it that when you say where you work you use the word just? “I’m just a writer”. Why is it that when friends come over, we apologise about the unfinished laundry that’s on show, or the pots in the sink? “Please ignore the mess, I haven’t got round to that yet, I was doing X, Y and Z.” Yes, you were doing X, Y and Z, so why not promote that success instead of criticising it?

My aim behind this blog is to get you to think of your reasoning behind you demoting yourself instead of promoting you and your achievements, regardless of the “size” of the action. What is it about you getting dressed that day that wasn’t great especially if you were feeling low? It’s bedtime and you’ve made it through the day, well done my friend, be proud of yourself.

So, let’s try and change that mindset and make you realise how amazing you and your actions truly are.

Firstly, don’t compare yourself to others. [2].

It is so easy to see others and think to yourself, oh they do so much, or I wish I was like them, they have it together. Well let me tell you, everybody is different and who’s to say that you aren’t soaring in a part of life that the person you are admiring isn’t and they feel just like you do. It’s human nature to admire someone but please remember that you are you, your journey is completely different to another person’s. You have achieved so much by making it through each day and for that you should acknowledge it and be proud of yourself.

Manifestation. [3].

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, and continue to say it…. manifestation. At the end of each day say your achievements out loud. Tell yourself what you have achieved that day. Two accomplishments to start with are “I have made it to the end of today” and “I have kept myself alive”.

Today is a new day. [4].

Understand that yesterday was different from today and tomorrow is another different day, and we will have different reasons as to why we can’t do something one day that we could do another. Something may have popped up that you had to do, or you may have been tired and decided that self-care was more important than getting a specific job done. Just because you did something yesterday or last week, doesn’t mean that you must do it today, allow yourself to know this.

Feel your emotions. [5].

Recognising that you are feeling specific emotions can help you to relate these to your mood and your motivation or lack of. If you are feeling good or on top of the world, it is easier to complete a task, whereas the same task on a day where you are feeling low may seem hard. Each day is different and allowing yourself to feel your emotions and understanding the reasons behind them that day will hopefully give you the nudge you need to acknowledge what you have achieved instead of what you haven’t.

Remember you are only human. [6].