PROUD
Journal Prompts for when you’re feeling proud…
Journaling helps solidify feelings of pride by documenting your accomplishments, reinforcing your sense of self-worth, and encouraging continued success
Where do you feel this feeling in your body? How does it show up physically for you?
What specific actions or events led to this feeling?
How do you talk to yourself when you’re proud? Is this different than when you are not proud? How can you incorporate this next time you’re craving this feeling?
Describe a recent accomplishment or achievement that made you feel proud. What challenges did you overcome to reach this milestone?
When was the last time you were proud of yourself? How can you find that same (or similar) pride soon if you haven’t felt it for a while?
Reflect on a time when you doubted yourself but ultimately succeeded. How did overcoming doubt contribute to your sense of pride?
Imagine yourself achieving a long-term goal or aspiration. Describe how you would celebrate and acknowledge your achievement.
TIP Inspiration and Motivation: Reading past entries about proud experiences can serve as inspiration and motivation during times when you may need a boost.
For professional success …
Use Pride as Motivation for Goal-Setting: When you recognize and celebrate your achievements, harness that pride to set ambitious but attainable goals. Reflect on what made you feel proud in the past and use those insights to create a roadmap for future successes. By setting clear, meaningful goals and attaching the positive emotion of pride to them, you can fuel your motivation to pursue them with enthusiasm and dedication.
Cultivate a Positive Work Environment: Share your feelings of pride and encourage others to do the same within your professional network. By fostering an atmosphere where achievements are celebrated, you can create a supportive community that values success and collaboration. This not only enhances team morale but also inspires others to strive for excellence, creating a ripple effect that can lead to greater collective success. When people feel proud of their contributions, they’re more likely to be engaged and motivated, which can elevate overall team performance.
To Fuel Personal Growth and Success…
Practice Self-Validation: Acknowledge your achievements and strengths without seeking external validation. Remind yourself of your worth and capabilities.
Develop a Growth Mindset: Use your feelings of pride to reinforce a growth mindset. Reflect on past challenges where you felt proud of overcoming obstacles, and identify the skills and lessons you gained from those experiences. When you face new challenges, remind yourself of your ability to grow and learn. For example, if you recently achieved a personal goal, think about the qualities that helped you succeed, such as resilience or determination. Embrace the idea that every experience, whether successful or not, contributes to your growth and development.
Savor the Emotion: Savoring is an emotion regulation strategy focused on fully experiencing and extending positive emotions. Too often, we let good moments pass by without truly appreciating them. By pausing to savor these experiences, we amplify and prolong the positive feelings, making them last longer and enhancing our overall well-being. Discover the benefits and tips for practicing HERE.
Breathing Exercises…
Savoring with Deep Breathing
Sit or lie down comfortably with your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
Place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly, just below your ribcage.
Inhale: Breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of four. Allow your belly to rise as you fill your lungs with air while keeping your chest relatively still.
Pause: Hold your breath for a count of two
Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of six - Feel your belly fall as you release the air, keeping your chest relatively still.
Focus on Your Positive Emotion:
As you continue deep breathing, bring to mind the happiness you’re experiencing (happiness, delight, joy).
Visualize the moment or experience that brought about this positive emotion.
Breath and Savor:
On each inhale, imagine that you are breathing in more of this happy feeling letting it fill your entire being.
On each exhale, release any tension or distractions, focusing solely on the emotion.