Why We Celebrate

What are you celebrating today?

I ask my clients this question at the beginning of every coaching session. Practicing celebration is useful to us in a number of ways.

First of all, it feels good! Focusing on what is going well / what we're happy about is a great way to lift our energy which is particularly useful when we're in the midst of demanding work. By celebrating the steps we've already taken towards our goals, we give ourselves a moment to see how far we've come and a reminder of our capability. This builds our momentum, making the next step easier to take.

Beyond the energy we get from celebrating, this practice is an opportunity to notice what is working well. When we get clear on what we did (or didn't do) that led to something worth celebrating, we can take that lesson and find places to apply it that we may not have otherwise seen. 

Of course, there are useful lessons to learn from what went wrong; but our brains don't need extra help to see those. They're wired to do that on their own. When we choose to focus on celebrations, we create new possibilities to learn and grow. And when we share our celebrations with others, we open up even more opportunities to experience joy and connection.