Celebrate Yourself

Tell me what you're proud of today!

On our last night on the Costa Rica retreat, drinking wine and eating fresh fish overlooking the coast, we all went around and said something we loved about each other. It happened naturally. One of the participants decided she wanted to compliment everybody, I stepped in to give it some structure, and the rest of the evening unfolded with tears, hugs, laughter, and genuine connection.

It was so powerful because it was real. There was no bullshit. We’d formed such a strong bond by the end of the retreat that we all genuinely loved each other in some way or another.

And through that, I think we all loved ourselves a little more, too.

It was so powerful to receive what people said about me. What was equally powerful was accepting their words as true, and joining them in celebrating myself for those qualities.

It can be so difficult to celebrate yourself. I still get afraid that if I’m too positive or share good things, I’ll come off braggy and everybody will hate me! Of course, anybody who’d react like that wouldn’t be a real friend in the first place, but sometimes the brain is not rational!

Celebrate your successes instead of rushing onto the next thing is so crucial to staying present in what feels good. It’s also important in ensuring we move forward with confidence instead of doubt.

There is so much negative internal talk inside our minds. We are our harshest critic almost all of the time. That is why it’s so important to take a step back and appreciate when you’re genuinely proud of yourself.

What is one thing you could celebrate about yourself today?

Close your eyes and really consider it.

What is one things you’re proud of about who you are, or something you’ve achieved?

I encourage you to be brave and leave it in the comments!! Yes, the comments!! Publicly!! Speaking your wins OUT LOUD is so powerful and helps manifest more successes, too.

At the beginning of the retreat, I asked each participant to share one thing they genuinely loved about themselves. By the end, we had all embodied these qualities so clearly. We WERE these traits. By speaking them out loud, we not only were able to better appreciate these qualities in each other, but we all stepped into these traits and owned them.

I’ll be watching the comments to shout out and respond to everybody who writes what they want to celebrate about themself!

If you’re not there yet, that’s okay too! Maybe take a few minute to write down one thing you genuinely love about yourself. Or keep it in your mind as you go for a walk, drive to work, or cook dinner. You deserve to be celebrated.

I first wrote this post in July, which included, of course, celebrating myself. I talked about how proud I was of the Costa Rica retreat and shared the testimonials I gathered. Then, I never published it. Why would I post something bragging about myself and the retreat?! That’s gross, I thought, and not what I want this Substack to be.

Learning not to hide yourself takes time.

Being proud is not bragging.

Celebrating yourself is not selfish.

If other people see your success as a reason to resent you, it is their problem, and not yours.

Being happy or proud does not mean you can’t also be sad, insecure, anxious, depressed, or feel a dozen other negative emotions.

I’m proud of the fact that I developed an idea out of nowhere, worked my ass off to make it a reality, and then created a wonderful trip for our group.

Bringing a community of strangers with common interests together in a beautiful place and encouraging them to open their minds and hearts was one of the most special and spiritual experiences of my life. I feel as if I discovered something I’m meant to do in my lifetime.

Somebody who attended the retreat DM’d this to me on instagram and it resonated:

So, finally, here are just a few of the testimonials from participants:

"The Write and Flow Retreat was both sublime and door opening. Ali flawlessly created an ambiance that nourished both our souls and our voices as writers. What’s even more wonderful than the live experience is how I have been able to carry the tools forward into my everyday life. On a certain level the retreat made me feel like I had come home to myself.“ — Mindy M.

“This retreat was one of the most amazing adventures of my life! It was well-designed and organized, and I felt extremely safe in Ali’s hands from the moment I signed up on a whim to stepping onto the plane home. The yoga and sound bath meditation interwoven with selected excursions and tailored writing workshops allowed me to navigate the apprehension I was feeling about the next steps of my career and the limitations I was setting on myself, not just in my writing but also in my personal journey. I made lifelong connections with a lovely group of people through sharing our work and collective experience, and by default we created the space to share ourselves. We laughed, we cried, and we became fearless in the process. Feels like a dream I’d want to have again and again! Thank you, Ali for opening your heart to make ours feel fuller.” — Ariel S.

“I am honored to have been a part of this beautiful retreat! You made us all feel safe and protected and modeled such a perfect balance of thoughtful planning and roll with the punches malleability to create an ideal flow! You are such a great leader and teacher. I truly can’t believe this this was your first retreat. You’re the best!” — Allison B.

AHH okay, I celebrated myself!! It was hard but I did it.

Now I’m stepping back and centering you instead.

Let me know what you’re celebrating about yourself today! You are brave and awesome.

One quick note to end!

I’m teaching a character workshop as part of the Craft Festival at Script Anatomy. Use the code EARLYPASS for $70 off a Festival Pass until September 5th!

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