A Note from Michelle: Celebrate Better
Eat better. Sleep better. Talk better. Act better. Be better. Better, better, better. That’s often what January feels like, beginning with New Year’s Resolutions. We hyper-focus on what to do better this year, making it seem as if last year we just weren’t good enough.
But what if we turn January on its head?
The end of the year is always a whirlwind of activity and stress. Maybe it’s time we give ourselves a winter break.
Instead of concentrating on what went wrong, why not take a breath and look at what went well?
I’ve always considered myself a “possibilities” person. With this in mind, I am choosing to focus on the possibilities opened up by our successes themselves. Reconstructing what went “right” in 2016 is as valuable – maybe even more valuable – as deconstructing what went “wrong.”
And this approach has several significant advantages:
Bye-bye stomachaches. A spotlight on success is uplifting. Rather than being stressed out and overwhelmed by our deficiencies, we can be encouraged by our strengths. That’s seriously motivating!
It’s an exercise . . . in mindfulness. To not let a year’s worth of effort, creativity, and dedication slip by without noting the positive impacts.
It’s a road to Appreciative Inquiry. Research shows that by paying deep attention to what works, rather than what doesn’t, we can spark creativity, increase pride in one’s work, and best of all, learn how to repeat our achievements.
It’s fun. Share memories with your team, your friends, your family. I guarantee you’ll laugh. After all, as Steve Allen once said, “Tragedy plus time equals comedy.”
So, yes, let’s all be better this year. Better at taking the time to truly celebrate last year’s accomplishments. Even if it’s just a brief, shining moment before it all hits the fan . . . well, the respite was worth it. And please share the joy! I’d love to hear about your 2016 successes.
Michelle Kelly, CEO (Chief Enjoyment Officer)