Have you been around little babies lately? Every. Single. New skill or step is celebrated. We do it with clapping and glee and huge smiles, too! Its cheers seem to encourage to keep going and try and take even bigger steps or learn even more challenging skills. But something happens as we age, we stop celebrating. Today, we’re going to focus on the incredible short-term, and even long-term effects of celebrating our wins, too.

As the year draws to a close, it is indeed the perfect time to reflect on the journey we’ve undertaken, the challenges we’ve conquered, and the successes we’ve achieved. 2023 has been a year of growth, resilience, and triumph, and now, as we stand at the threshold of a new beginning, it’s time to celebrate our wins and prepare ourselves for the opportunities that lie ahead.

Celebrating the Gain vs. Noticing the Gap

I don’t know about you, but I was measuring myself against a yardstick of perfectionism for years. Or worse, comparing myself to someone else who was further on the journey that I was on – it didn’t matter what it was. What I could see was their success and, well, my lack thereof. Can you relate?

If we are measuring the gap, we will always lose! When we compare ourselves to others, we always lose. Often, they do, too, as it creates separateness vs. connection. Even if we improved by leaps and bounds, when we look toward the horizon, toward the goal of what we are striving for, we will always see that big ole’ gap starring at us, perhaps even condemning us, and telling us, “we blew it,” or “we’re not good enough”. When we think these negative, nasty comments, they are only going to raise our anxiety, worry, and thus cortisol levels, and cause a hit to our hormone balance.

On the other hand, when we look back, we can see the gains! If you love the scriptures, like I do, you can reflect and see that even God celebrated his wins, and he didn’t wait until it was all completed. If you go to Genesis 1, you can read that He celebrated every single step of his creation process. We can do the same.

Personally, that’s one of the reasons that I have enjoyed my gratitude journaling – not only can I clearly see what I’m grateful for, but I can also reflect upon and count my daily wins. In my business coaching group, we share our weekly wins. That has been awesome. I actually keep track of them all week long and am astounded as I share and celebrate with my colleagues each and every week. It really has fueled me to keep going, just like a little toddler learning to walk.

Reflecting on the Journey

As we wrap up another whirlwind year, it’s the perfect time to take a breather and reflect on the rollercoaster ride we’ve been on – the ups, the downs, and all the twists in between. 2023 has been quite the journey, a mix of challenges, victories, and a ton of growth. Now, as we stand on the brink of a fresh start, let’s not forget to celebrate our wins and gear up for whatever the next chapter holds.

Personally, 2023 was HUGE!! I started a new life in a new apartment, a new city, a new name, and then picked up where I had stopped with my website, my blogs, and my book and began creating a new chapter in my life. What a ride!! Oh, how grateful I am for the amazing people who have been there on this journey with me- you included!

I love what Oprah Winfrey said, “Celebrate your successes. Find some humor in your failures. Take a deep breath. And start all over again.” That is exactly how I knew that I had to face 2023, and now I can measure the gains in awe of what has unfolded.

Now, let’s examine the effects of celebrating on our moods and, of course, our hormone levels;).

Celebrating Wins from a Positive Psychology Perspective

If you think about it, the quality of our lives depends on the questions we ask. Thus, if we ask ourselves the questions, “What went well?”, “What did I learn?” or “What are my gains?” we will experience more of our happy hormones. In fact, from the lens of positive psychology, celebrating wins is not just a moment of joy; it’s a crucial practice for fostering well-being and overall happiness. Dr. Martin Seligman, a pioneer in positive psychology, emphasizes the importance of recognizing and savoring positive experiences. In other words, according to Seligman, savoring victories isn’t just a feel-good exercise. It’s a legit strategy for building a positive life narrative. Ah, who doesn’t want that?

As we celebrate our victories, we create a positive feedback loop that boosts our mood and enhances our resilience in the face of challenges. When we have a positive vibe going on, our dopamine and other happy hormones or endorphins increase, which, you know if you follow my writing, lower cortisol. This not only supports your hormone balance in the short term but also reminds us of our capabilities, reinforcing our confidence and motivation to tackle new goals in the coming year.

The Impact of Celebrating on Stress Levels

As I shared in my previous blog, Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., known as the Godfather of Epigenetics, stated that “Our thought changes our biochemistry, which changes the behavior of our cells!” In my humble opinion, that’s HUGE! Certainly, celebrating our wins with positive thoughts will then have a profound impact – not just on our stress levels, but down to a cellular level!!

Taking the time to acknowledge and appreciate our achievements triggers the release of positive hormones, such as dopamine and endorphins, which contribute to feelings of happiness and satisfaction. This, in turn, helps to alleviate stress and anxiety, fostering a positive mindset essential for personal well-being and continued success.

As we celebrate our victories, we create a positive feedback loop that boosts our mood and enhances our resilience in the face of challenges. The act of celebration serves as a reminder of our capabilities, reinforcing our confidence and motivation to tackle new goals in the coming year.  And as Eckhart Tolle states – “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”

Preparing for the New Year

As we bid farewell to the old year, channeling the positive energy from our successes into the upcoming year is crucial. Use the momentum gained from your achievements to set ambitious yet realistic goals for the New Year. Dust off your goals, recalibrate your priorities and sketch out the roadmap for the next chapter.

Rolling with Growth and Change

Change is the only constant, right? So, let’s not just roll with the punches; let’s dance with them. The lessons from this past year? Use them to level up. Embrace growth like a pro and cultivate that go-getter mindset. It’s not just about facing challenges; it’s about conquering them with style.

Personally, I’ve been pondering for many weeks, what and/or where I want to uplevel in my life in the coming weeks and months. I’ve been doing my “Future Self” meditations from Brooke Snow’s Creation Coach App and visualizing and journaling what I want to create in 2024. Yes, I will need to roll with the growth and change as it comes, but I can at least start with “the in mind” and dance to the magic that God delivers!

In a Nutshell

 As we wind down 2023, take a beat to revel in your successes, learn from the hiccups, and step into the New Year with a swagger. Celebrate the journey, the wins, and the resilience that’s molded you. Here’s to a year brimming with more victories, personal growth, and the spirit to take on whatever the universe throws your way. Remember, celebrating isn’t just a side dish; it’s the main course of this crazy adventure called life. So, clink those glasses, toss the confetti, and get ready for the encore. It’s showtime!