Here is a quote – Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.
—Plautus
Taking time out to reflect and rejoice at the moment of success is a gift we require and deserve. For many – who are trained from an early age to be indifferent to praises or accolades – celebrating their achievements can be hard, while others just perceive celebrating achievements as mere distraction, which can be avoided. For them, it involves wasting precious time, energy and finances. However, celebrating milestones and benchmarks in work and in life might turn out to be a good way to carve your life.
The power of rewards
Let me signify the importance of celebrations by telling you about an interesting study that was conducted on dogs a few years back. This study45 was conducted by a reputable organization to determine how dogs responded to rewards and punishment. When the dogs responded to questions correctly, they would receive a treat and when they answered the questions incorrectly, they would receive a small punishment. The study revealed that while playing any game in which the dogs had the possibility of being punished, they would quickly become passive and withdraw from the game. Humans are also known to work in more or less the same way. This study illustrates that celebration can pave way for future success.
Acknowledging the contribution of others
Celebrating your achievements is a way to acknowledge the contribution of others who stood with you and enabled you to succeed. Do remember to ask them to participate in your celebrations. Whether you throw a party or simply buy yourself a cupcake, it will certainly make you joyous.
You can even celebrate by talking about your achievements with your friends, family members and anyone who helped you achieve your life purpose. The best way to be applauded by your friends is turning to social media or sharing with a close friend over lunch. People who share your concerns and wish you well will be delighted on hearing your wonderful news.
I personally know several entrepreneurs who never forget to pick rewards for those reaching milestones. The rewards act as an encouragement for their employees to work hard towards a goal, both as an individual as well as a part of a team. These can be in form of financial incentives, benefits, a pat on the back or anything that will generate some excitement among employees.
Celebrations give you the much-needed break
While accomplishing your life purpose, you focused on your work and your cramped schedule and did not allow any time for yourself. Hard work often drains us emotionally and physically. You need time to charge your batteries and poise yourself for the next conquest, the next step.
If you have some time to spare from your schedule, taking a vacation from technology, your cell phone, your work, and your obligations is the ideal way to celebrate your success. You are free to do whatever it takes to give your mind some rest. Set a timeframe to enjoy yourself to the fullest and do not forget to make it non-negotiable.
Treat yourself with whatever you love – flowers, books, or holidays. Then again, keep in mind that your celebration is compatible with your other preferences. For instance, you can avoid choosing an expensive shopping trip when you are planning to save money.
If you happen to be a businessperson and your company won a big contract, then giving yourself and your company a day off is also a good idea. Go to a ball game or have a party. If you and your employees know that each step along the way will be an occasion to have fun, then all of you will be that much more motivated to reach the next level.
Celebrations help in boosting your confidence
You know you have achieved something significant and that, too, under trying circumstances. For those who lack patience, celebrations keep them thinking about their life purpose. They realize that once meet their objective, celebrations are inevitable. Appreciating their own efforts motivates them to work harder because, consciously or unconsciously, they know that they can achieve a milestone if they work with the same intensity and resolve.
Post-celebrations, devote some time to reflect on where you started your journey from and the reasons that contributed to your success. Remembering where you were, who you were and under what circumstances you decided upon your life purpose may help you take stock of how far you have come and how much further you still have to go.
