What makes you feel proud?
Being proud of ourselves is such a great feeling! What if there was a way to feel it more often?
We usually associate feeling proud of ourselves with BIG accomplishments. For example, we did something that was scary or intimidating, like running a race or speaking in front of a crowd. Or, we earned recognition by winning a contest where we received some sort of prize.
But instead of waiting for big accomplishments, what if we changed our mindset by feeling proud about all the small accomplishments, too? With this change of thinking, we can recognize all the small, everyday wins that help lead to big achievements. It also allows us to feel good about the progress we make each day and to have that “proud” feeling more often.
Become Conscious of Your Choices
As a first step, we need to be more conscious of the choices we are making and how those decisions make us feel. When we make a positive choice (even if it’s small), it’s important to acknowledge it by celebrating it! Go ahead and pat yourself on the back! Over time, we will recognize that we have the option to make ourselves feel proud many times every day. This will help build our confidence toward making more positive choices again tomorrow. By taking these small and relatively easy steps, we’re on our way to making ourselves proud on a regular basis!
The How-To
Here are some examples of small, proud moments to celebrate through conscious choices:
- I want to break the habit of eating cookies before bedtime. At 9pm I wanted to eat a cookie, but I didn’t. I’m proud of myself today!
To feel proud of myself I needed to acknowledge the fact that I desired a cookie, but then I didn’t eat it. By doing so, I kept a promise that I made to myself. Way to go, me!
- I want to buy new fabric today, even though I don’t have a specific project in mind for it. However, I’m trying to be intentional with my purchasing this year, so I resisted buying it. Instead, I will wait until I have a project in mind. I’m proud of myself today!
By deciding not to purchase fabric just for the sake of purchasing, I am changing my habits and making myself more conscious of my choices. I want to purchase fabric only when I have a specific project in mind for it that I am ready to work on.
- I’m nervous about sewing a garment. I usually only sew quilts. I fear I may be ruining the fabric. I’m worried it won’t look the way I imagine it in my mind. But I tried it anyway. I’m proud of myself today.
I was feeling fear around trying a new skill, but I went ahead and did it anyway. The outcome doesn’t matter as much as the action of trying something new.
- My work room is such a mess and makes me feel unhappy when I look at it. But I don’t want to take time away from sewing to deal with it. However, today, I decided I would take 30 minutes to clear off my cutting table and refold fabric. This room looks so much better. I’m proud of myself!
It’s about progress, not perfection. Even by cleaning up my space a little bit, I feel better about the state of the room. And I’m ready to be more creative.
- I didn’t want to get out of bed today. But I did it. I’m proud of myself.
Some days it’s the little things! There’s nothing too small to feel proud of!
- I took the time to email or comment on another sewist’s work to compliment what they’re doing and let them know I admire their work.
Spreading a little positivity to others, especially when they’re not expecting it, is another way to make you feel proud that you brightened someone else’s day!
Teaching your brain to feel proud of your decisions throughout the day will help you to love yourself more and to find gratitude in the small things. We don’t have to achieve great feats to feel proud of ourselves. We can take little steps each day to be a bit better than we were the day before. And that is something to be proud of!
Want more inspiration? Check out Finding Your Unique Creative Voice and What Does It Mean to “Create With Intent”?
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