Have you ever told someone you are proud of them only to have them look at you like you are crazy? Have you ever been told by someone they are proud of you and just brushed it off like it was nothing?
My daughter achieved a major milestone yesterday in being initiated into the Long Beach State chapter of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. I was tearing up off and on for the entire day because I was so proud of her and kept telling her so and she received it willingly and was also proud of her accomplishment.
Many times we fail to tell people we are proud of them and I think it’s something people really need to hear. It’s more than “you done good”, it takes you done good to another level of sincerity. Proud means feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one’s own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely associated.
First you have to be proud of yourself. What are you proud of that you’ve accomplished in life? Think about it, there are probably so many things that you haven’t thought of. If you have a hard time thinking about it, ask someone you are close to, they will help you discover the things you forgot. My speaking colleague and friend Sheryl Roush was helping me prep my application for the Toastmasters Accredited Speaker Designation in 2016 and she was reminding me of all the things she knew I had accomplished that I left off the application. I remember saying, oh yeah, I remember that.
We are our own worst critics sometimes. Be proud of yourself and also be proud for others when they accomplish big milestones or even small ones in life. Celebrate All Successes. Yesterday I took my daughter to tea, we went to the ceremony and then stopped off at a place to sit and talk for awhile longer. It was a great day of celebration, pride and accomplishment. A memory I will cherish not only because my daughter achieved it but because I got to share it with her and celebrate her success and let her know how proud I was of her.
The Power is in The Work…