***Celebrating A Job Well Done

Last week I finished a big project. I am the Official Guide for Women's Issues for www.selfgrowth.com , and that distinction required me to create a new website, complete some half-finished products, and select one of my articles for wide distribution. Last week, I finished all that. You can see the fruits of my labor at www.successfulwomanslife.com and you are hereby commissioned to tell me about typos, broken links, and confusing statements - if you so desire!

The purpose of my writing today is to reveal that I did my usual. I hardly took a breath after finishing that project; I just plunged ahead with the next item in the queue. How unsatisfying! This is something I am always lecturing coaching clients about. Stop long enough to appreciate what you've accomplished. I remember a vague thought, "I've finished it." I don't remember thinking about acknowledging the work I completed - or myself for completing it. I didn't even journal about my success at creating a whole new niche for my work. This project took me two months to complete, which seems like it deserves a major celebration. Then I can move on to the next project or the next step with this one.

How do you celebrate? Whether it's completing a project or experiencing success or getting an award, what feels celebratory for you? Is it ice cream or flowers? Is it taking the afternoon off to read a good book? Is it doing something special with your honey? For me, it's usually going out for dinner and stating that I am celebrating. Oddly enough, on Friday, Jim and I did go out for dinner, but I didn't even think about celebrating dotting the last i or crossing the last t. We just went out for dinner and then I filled the entire weekend with non-work activities and didn't think about the project again until I sat at the computer this morning.

I suspect I would benefit from creating some sort of celebration ritual, especially one that doesn't require food. When I wrote earlier that I didn't even journal, that concept just flowed out, stream-of-consciously. However, I think journaling is probably where I'd get the most benefit.

* What do I have to celebrate?
* What does that mean in the grand scheme of my life?
* Are there any loose strings that I need to tie up?
* Is there anything missing that would enhance the effectiveness of what I've accomplished?
* What feels like a just reward?

Those are some good questions. They will help the scope of the project integrate into my being. I think I'll answer them now, and then maybe I'll go buy a big bunch of balloons.

© 2007, Jacqueline Hale