Celebrate your success!

Our lives have become so busy and we put so much pressure on ourselves every day. We make long lists of tasks to achieve and wonder why they’re not all done by the end of the day, or even by the end of the week. This can be so dis-heartening. It can feel like we’re always chasing our tail and never getting anywhere. But I question, are we expecting too much of ourselves? Are we being realistic? Do we have the benchmark set too high? Is there such a thing?

Recently I took a step back in time and listed all my accomplishments so far in this lifetime. I wrote down every course I completed, every career I managed, every large role I took part in, every award I received, and every hobby I mastered. Wow, what a list of achievements! For some reason, this made me feel quite emotional. I’ve spent my whole life expanding my awareness, developing an array of new skills, working on self-development to be the best version of myself, and giving a considerable amount of my time and energy to my community, in addition to running a family.

My most recent achievement was the completion of my bachelor’s degree in health science. It took me four and a half years to complete. I went head in with a commitment to myself that I would give it my all, everything I had, so I’d always know that I had done my very best. And I can honestly say, I really did. What makes me even more proud of myself is that I achieved this degree whilst studying fulltime and juggling a kaleidoscope of challenges that really tested my resolve, often shaking me to the core: nurturing a family of four, supporting a child struggling with mental illness, a total hysterectomy to remove fibroids that had grown to the size of an Australian football, a holiday through Europe to visit family that I knew I would never see again, a marriage break-down after being together for 25 years, leaving my children and the home I had created, living alone in isolation during the height of the covid epidemic, struggling to find a way to support myself financially, injuring my back and creating a debilitating spinal bulge, severe anxiety causing panic attacks and depression resulting in mental breakdown, several bacterial infections and uncomfortable gut issues, the death of my beloved aunty, moving house three times and on each occasion feeling the grief of letting go of material possessions, the instability and insecurity of not having roots laid down, then slowly trusting to branch them out again. I look back now, and I wonder how I did it all. The last five years of my life have been the most challenging of all, but I’ve finally come out the other side a stronger, wiser, more resilient, and much happier person than before.

When my degree certificate arrived in the mail I proudly had it professionally framed and felt honoured to hang it up on the wall in my office. Yes, I did a victory dance. It’s a reminder of so much more than everything I learnt at the Endeavour College of Natural Health. It represents my commitment to myself because I’m worth it. Something I have struggled with my whole life.

Now let’s be clear for a moment. I’m not sharing this to gloat or to play the victim for any attention or acknowledgement because of what I’ve endured. I’m sharing a private reflection, a conversation I had with myself about where I’ve come from and what I’ve travelled through to arrive in this place, at this time. These events don’t define me but they are a part of me. They’ve shaped and moulded me into who I am today. They demonstrate my resilience and grit, my perseverance and passion for my personal goals. And I’m proud of that.

I found a quote from Malcom S. Forbes that I can completely relate to, “Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat.” And boy, did I feel defeated at times!

Australians are very good at playing down their achievements for fear of criticism and growing a ‘big head’. It’s viewed as arrogant or conceited to assume an exaggeratedly high opinion of oneself, but I want to inspire you to stop for a moment, sit back and contemplate what you've accomplished. When you finish a task or complete a goal, no matter how small, reward yourself, spread the word with those closest to you, strike a power pose, do a victory dance. Use your happiness to both celebrate success and elevate your mood. Celebrate your success with self-care. It doesn’t need to be much: a great cup of coffee, a moment alone in peace, a special treat, 30 minutes spent doing something you love. Practice gratitude, be thankful and use that energy to propel you forward. Celebrating your achievements and applauding your triumphs is a sure way to refuel your enthusiasm, your growth and keep yourself motivated for your future dreams and aspirations. It can help drive you forward, to take the next steps towards your larger goals.

Remember always, you are phenomenal! You deserve to celebrate how far you’ve come. Staying positive is the key to continued success.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate”, Oprah Winfrey.

In health and wellness,

Monica ♥