No, really. I want to hear about your accomplishments.

I think we tend to shut ourselves down.

Have you ever had an idea that really made you excited? An idea that ignited a glimmer of hope only to have it fanned away by self-doubt or the shadow of doubt from others?

In the day and age of social media, and instant gratification, it’s hard to not feel bombarded by the success of others.

Your favorite Instagram personality is uploading photos of their latest trip to Ibiza, showcasing their amazing physique, while their model-esq partner looks like they were carved by Michelangelo himself. Meanwhile, you *I* am three coffee-cups (because what responsible adult uses a bowl) deep into pint of ice cream you told yourself you weren’t going to eat.

What we need to get better at is recognizing: that someone else’s success doesn’t mean you’re *I’m* a failure.

Maybe you chose to go to college, maybe you didn’t, maybe you decided to cover yourself in gorgeous art mimicking the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel (this is what I tell my parents about my tattoos. Can you imagine an Italian Father buying this? Yeah, neither can I. But I digress…). The point is, no matter what you choose to do, or not do, has absolutely zero to do with your self-worth.

Productivity does not equal value, ever.

Ever.

Read that three-million more times until your reptilian brain accepts it as truth.

You, as you are now, are valuable beyond measure. And I WANT to hear about your accomplishments, I want to share in that joy. Shit, you know how motivating that is when I see someone on top of the world, feeling fulfilled by themselves?!? SO SO SO MOTIVATING. It’s not “too much” (also, let’s stop saying this, there is no such thing as ‘too much’ joy. Just like there is no such thing as ‘too many cookies’).

So, while this is a shorter excerpt, I wanted to take a moment to implore you to revel in your accomplishments. Did you allow yourself to love? To open up? Did you manage to secure an awesome job? Or decide to leave your 9-5 to pursue your passion? Tell me, I want to know (even you presume it’s “small.” I promise you, a win is a win).