Start 2025 with Self-Acknowledgement and Growth 🌟

Well, 2024 has come to a close and we're at the precipice of 2025. Around this time, we naturally reflect on all we’ve accomplished, the challenges we’ve faced, what we've learned, and the ways we’ve grown. It’s also the perfect time to acknowledge ourselves and to honor the greatness we’ve brought into the world in 2024! This idea of self-acknowledgement is something I want to talk about today because it’s not just important—it can be transformative.

A brilliant coach once told me (shout out to Cami McLaren!), “The thing we most want for others is often the thing we struggle with ourselves.” This resonates deeply with me because I love helping others see how amazing they are. But when it comes to acknowledging myself? That’s harder. Over the past few years, I’ve realized that self-acknowledgement is a personal growth area for me. It’s one thing to uplift others, but to genuinely accept and celebrate my own wins 🎉 has taken intentional and continuous practice.

Here’s why this matters: Our thoughts are powerful. The National Science Foundation estimates we have up to 60,000 thoughts a day, 80% of which are negative‼️ When we don’t intentionally practice positive self-acknowledgement, those critical inner voices can take over. But there’s good news—your thoughts create your reality. Positive thoughts about yourself strengthen neural connections in your brain. 

So, how can you start flexing your self-acknowledgement muscle? Here are a few ideas to get you started or re-spark your acknowledgement practice:

🖼️ Reframing Negative ThoughtsWhen self-doubt creeps in, try shifting the narrative. Instead of, “I screwed that up,” reframe it to, “That didn’t go as planned, but I worked hard, and I’ve learned what to do differently next time". Reframing transforms mistakes into opportunities for growth and builds a more compassionate inner dialogue.

😍 The 'Mirror Mantra'Look yourself in the mirror and acknowledge something powerful about who you are. It might feel awkward at first, but the more you do it, the more natural it will become—and the more deeply you’ll believe it!

📓 Gratitude JournalingWriting down what you’re grateful for can lower stress and increase self-awareness. Acknowledging even small wins can help you better understand your strengths and values.

🙌 Celebrate Yourself!Make a conscious effort to celebrate your achievements, no matter what size. Treat yourself to something special, share your success with someone you trust, or simply take a moment to say, “I’m proud of myself". I like to celebrate with a nice dinner out (preferably sushi) and talking about my wins.

📜 Keep an Acknowledgement ListStart a list of things you’re proud of—qualities, actions, or even compliments from others. At first, it might feel hard to find items for the list, but over time, it will grow, and you’ll be reminded of just how incredible you are.

The key takeaway is this: You are worth acknowledging!

As we move into 2025 together, I encourage you to pause, reflect, and celebrate who you are and all you’ve achieved in 2024! It’s been an honor to walk alongside you on your journey, and I look forward to partnering with you in the new year to help you unleash even more of your potential.

Here’s to your greatness and a year of possibility!