When was the last time you celebrated YOU?

And when was the last time you shared that celebration with others?

Not your children’s successes, your husband’s promotion or your friend’s fitness challenge, but YOUR OWN wins, achievements and Woop-Woop moments, however small and seemingly insignificant?

My guess is… not often enough!

The made up stories in our heads

One of the most important things I’ve learnt on my healing journey of growth and transformation over the last few years, is to notice and acknowledge the power we give the made up stories in our heads. Once we see the connection, we set ourselves up to begin releasing all the limiting beliefs, fears and negative behaviours around those stories that we’ve accumulated since childhood.

Let me share some examples which might resonate with you too…

During a recent visualisation/regression session with Tara at Empathpreneurs, I remembered occasions at school where I was proud of doing something well, but then quickly being told I was ‘square’ for being too clever or made to feel like I was bragging. Over time, I made up subconscious stories in my mind that sharing my success, feeling proud or being too clever meant that something negative would happen, and so I began to dim my sparkle to fit in.

Another part of the regression took me back to a hotel job when I was about 20 or 21 when I applied for a reception supervisor position and was lucky enough to secure the new role. Unfortunately, my outward expression of pride and joy was short-lived as the unsuccessful candidate – a receptionist colleague – was obviously disappointed and her attitude towards me and the job changed and ultimately she chose to move on. Of course, who’s to say I would have acted any differently, but the story my subconscious mind made up was that succeeding publicly meant being disliked (or liked less). Moral of the story? Be humble, stay small, don’t shout about your success.

Signs and synchronicity

Over the past couple of days, I’ve heard or read the words ‘celebrate yourself’ multiple times – which for me is always a little nudge from the Universe!

I realised that in life, love and business, I hold back a lot about sharing my successes, the things I’m proud of and my achievements. Subconsciously those made-up stories from early life are still showing up and preventing me from living fully in my joy and achieving in more amazing things. Even as I write this sentence, I can feel tension and fear build in my tummy. Will people think I’m bragging in this blog? Will I be liked less? Will someone unsubscribe or say something negative?

The trouble is, when we stay in this fear-based mindset, we literally create the energetic environment that attracts the one thing we don’t want!

In every moment, we have a choice. And my choice right now is to squash those fears and step into the light and share my truth. Every. Single. Day.

Because our vulnerability is our greatest strength. 

It’s so easy for me to share other people’s amazing wins and I love to do it frequently. There’s barely a day goes by when I don’t share someone’s post to my Instagram Stories or comment on their post with a huge ‘Congratulations’ and lots of emojis! I love lifting other people and will never stop spreading the love.

But at the same time, I need to celebrate me!

And I’d love you to join me in making a conscious effort to celebrate YOU and your wins throughout July. #CelebratingMe

(After all, the general consensus is that it only takes 21 days to form a new habit!) 

With today being the 1 July, it’s a perfect moment to start this new way of being; to actively choose to acknowledge our fears, expose our made-up stories and replace them with beautiful celebrations.

I want you to step into the energy of celebrating everything…

The new clients, the successful launch, the income milestone, the distance you ran, the weight you lifted in the gym, the day without alcohol, the day filled with self-care, the extra portions of vegetables, the stepping away from a toxic relationship, the day without junk food, the day you stepped out of your comfort zone and did something super scary…

Or the seemingly tiny things… the way you chose to not react to your toddler’s tantrum, your partner’s comment or someone’s Instagram ‘perfect’ life and instead chose LOVE in every moment.

Choosing love over fear always wins.

My commitment to celebrating ME

Every day throughout July over on Instagram, I’m going to share something I’m proud of and will be inviting you to do the same. Remember, this is about you celebrating yourself. It’s natural for us to see a celebratory post and either jump in and say ‘well done!’ or to scroll on past if it triggers one of those pesky made up stories in our heads!

Of course, I encourage you to continue supporting your friends, family and online connections, and definitely keep working on those fears, stories and limiting beliefs as they arise, but ultimately, this is a challenge that aims to inspire you to celebrate you!

I’d love you to comment on each of my Instagram posts (or IG Stories) with your celebration of the day so that you can get into the habit of sharing with others. If you’re really not up for publicly sharing, then at least begin a notebook page, numbered from 1-31 and write a few words for each day. Maybe after 31 days of writing you’ll notice the energy shift and will share your experience with me and the world!

We’ll be using the hashtag #CelebratingMe

If you choose to create your own posts as an extra way to celebrate yourself, please tag me @thesoulfulword and use our special celebratory hashtag #CelebratingMe.

Let’s see how much of an energy shift we can feel collectively over the next 31 days!

With love,

Lorraine xx