Be Proud of Yourself: JB's Monday Momentum #19
Acknowledging Hard-earned Accomplishments and Growth
Estimated reading time: four minutes
Welcome to Monday Momentum, the weekly newsletter where I discuss practical wisdom, uncovering insights to enhance our lives one thoughtful moment at a time. While I have confidence in the ideas I write about, I am still in the process of learning them. I acknowledge that what works for me may not work for everyone. Take each idea as you see fit and let me know what you think!
Hello friends,
Hearing "I'm proud of you" often brings us fulfillment, confirming a job well done or hard work paying off. After recently graduating high school, I heard these words frequently from my family. While graduating high school isn’t a rare achievement, with over 3.7 million students doing it this year1, I’m still proud of myself. I’m proud of how I handled the journey and the effort I put into it. This idea of being proud of myself is something I’m focusing on more. "I'm proud of me" can have just as much impact as hearing "I'm proud of you."
If you missed the last edition—“Be Your Own Best Friend”—you can click here to check it out.
A Question I am Contemplating:
Why is it important to recognize the value of our efforts and accomplishments?
There is no point in living if we don’t do hard things. Whether it’s deliberately taking on challenges or embracing difficult situations, doing hard things is essential for a fulfilling life.
After completing something hard2, it's essential to celebrate—not just the end result but also the journey and progress made along the way. Recognizing the effort and dedication you've invested in your goals is a powerful way to reinforce a sense of pride. Whether it's achieving a small milestone or overcoming a significant challenge, each step forward deserves acknowledgment. Celebrating progress reaffirms the value of persistence and determination in achieving success.
We do not need to throw an entire party (although, sometimes necessary), for each thing we do; a simple "Yeah, I did that" is all it takes to check this box of being proud of yourself. Doing this is also a large part of being your own friend; we should never rob ourselves of enjoying what we have done. Acting as if we did nothing special can lead to burnout and a loss of confidence. Conversely, acknowledging that you did something hard—understanding the obstacles you have overcome and the sacrifices you made—will give you future confidence.
Being in a constant state of "GO, GO, GO", thinking you have never done enough, takes away from being present, brushes over your accomplishments, and creates a disconnect between who you think you are and who you really are. By simply acknowledging your efforts, you create a better understanding of who you are3 and the track you are on.
Because "hard" is subjective, it is up to you to decide what deserves to be celebrated. Maybe it's finally getting out of bed after a series of lazy days. Maybe it's getting a great score on an exam you studied hard for. Nevertheless, do not overthink what deserves pride—just be proud. Be proud of your successes and failures. Everything we go through—good or bad—shapes us into who we are today. Be proud that you can always improve and learn from the bad. Be proud that you did something you did not think you could. In a world where self-criticism is common, let us prioritize finding reasons to celebrate ourselves.
One final note: I cannot say all of this and then not state the obvious — While celebrating our achievements and embracing self-pride are crucial for personal well-being, it is important to navigate this with balance. Too much pride can lead to an inflated ego, blinding us to our weaknesses and hindering growth. Embracing a healthy balance of pride and humility allows us to appreciate our accomplishments while remaining grounded and receptive to continual improvement.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to be proud of myself for completing this letter.
Quote on celebrating yourself:
“For after all, if attentiveness should be measured in minutes and discipline measured in hours, then indomitability must be measured in years. Or, if philosophical investigations are not to your taste, then let us simply agree that the wise man celebrates what he can.” — Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow4
Goal for the Week:
Write each day
Despite being incredibly busy over the past month and a half, I'm disappointed with how inconsistent my letters have been. Writing, whether in these letters or a journal, is something I enjoy and find relaxing. Given how much it benefits me, it’s silly not to make time for it. Writing needs to be much higher on my list of priorities. This week, I plan to follow through on that by writing each day. I know that if I do, I’ll be proud of myself and happier with how I spend my time.
What I’m Reading:
A Gentleman in Moscow — Amor Towles (60% done)
What I’m listening to (one podcast, one artist, one song):
Zac Brown Band
“Hakuna Matata” — Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Joseph Williams5
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe to stay updated for the next edition and feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Take care,
James
...Or even if we do not complete it. Celebrating your failures is extremely helpful to overcome said failure. (When I say "celebrate failure," I mean be proud and excited that you just created a valuable learning experience.)
Knowing who you are is blatant advice, but now ask yourself “Who am I, really?” I bet this question is harder to answer than you think…
I came across this quote in A Gentleman in Moscow (page 110). It's from a part where the protagonist is contemplating why people celebrate anniversaries. There might be "better" quotes on this topic, but I thought it was really cool that I found this one in a book I was reading while thinking about these ideas. Also, the book has been fantastic so far. It's a feel-good book that’s funny, wholesome, and insightful.
I’m currently in Tanzania and learned that Hakuna Matata is a real phrase people use here. It does indeed mean “no worries” … Lion King just became much more real and it’s sweet.