Weekly: You can celebrate
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your support of our new daily newsletter and podcast.
It has been so meaningful to hear from you and to learn that this new service is helping you with your well-being. And to the many of you who shared it with your friends, colleagues and family, thank you for helping to grow our community!
As we approach the end of the year, I want to encourage you to take a minute to celebrate your progress. Many of us have developed a misperception about pride and what it means to celebrating oneself, and today, I'd like us to collectively correct it. You are worthy of celebration.
With gratitude,
Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy
This Week
Pride: it's got a bad reputation.
For too long, it's been confused with something else: egotism, self-glorification, or bragging.
But that's not what pride is at all. True pride is about celebrating your actions, your progress, and how you are growing in alignment with your values. It has nothing to do with positioning yourself as above or below another person.
(As you'll see below, we asked our community to share something they're feeling proud of themselves for. Not a single answer talked about another person or involved a comparison. It was all about their unique growth.)
Here's one way to make this mindset shift and to start celebrating yourself.
Try This Think about a character trait that you value. For example, you might aspire to be loving, patient, curious, thoughtful, courageous, or persistent.
Then ask yourself: How did I demonstrate that value today, or this week, or lately? Look for the examples in your life where you lived by your valued trait.
Then, acknowledge them, just the way you would celebrate that accomplishment for a friend. "I'm proud of myself for that." "I showed up; that's awesome!" "I made a new, more aligned choice." "That was a moment of growth."
Take the time to recognize how you are showing up today in a way that is meaningful and authentic for you. The more you do this, the more motivated you will be to keep making these types of choices.
More Tips and Tools
1. Try anyway (Instagram, TikTok)
2. Stop judging your life (Instagram)
3. Be a present listener (Instagram)
4. Change your environment (Instagram)
5. The legacy you leave (Instagram)
6. Sometimes you have to subtract (Instagram)
Community
What are you proud of yourself for?
"After living in this foreign country for 4 years, I finally plucked up the courage to go to a cafe alone!"
"Finally starting to learn a new language."
"Listening to my feelings and emotions."
"Daring to be more vulnerable with my boyfriend."
"I have started writing again, and this week, I have written every day!"
"Saying no to an extra commitment because I need rest."
"Resilience while transitioning into a new career role."
"I got an A on my chemistry test! (This is my hardest subject.)"
"Recognizing my limits and saying "not right now.""
Inspiration
The best library social media account (LitMag) — The people of the Milwaukee Library system are having way more fun than the rest of us.
The photography of Mitch Rouse (Colossal) — Take a moment and zoom out. It can give you such good perspective.
Your iMessages, wrapped (New Yorker) — "Leaving now!"
Before You Go
Thank you for reading
Want to get the New Happy newsletter sent directly to your email every week? It’s free, inspiring, and packed with useful tools. Enter your email and join our community now.
