Self-Gratitudation

   Hey there, wandering scrollers, friends, lovable internet family. Today I'm going to bring up an important self-care practice not many talk about. I call it "self-gratitudation," but it probably has other names. And until recently, I didn't even know it existed.

   Let's be clear, it's not some far-out concept or anything. But you may not have thought about this practice yourself, much less considered the benefits of actually trying it. In fact, at first glance it may sound like something a little profane, or maybe narcissistic at best. 

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Basics of Self-Care

   Almost everywhere you look, self-care at heart involves allowing yourself to rest as well as inspiring and invigorating one's spirit. So a good spa day is as good a self-care option as a rugby match, depending on the person. Since everyone is a bit different in what they need, like, love and want, it can be hard to pin down one routine for all. I say hard, but what I mean is clearly impossible.

   However, self-gratitudation is one that really does work for everyone, in every situation. Not only that, but it combines the polar opposites of self-care into one: rest and invigoration/inspiration folded into something everybody enjoys (and no one seems to feel they get enough of)~ celebration!


How "Self-Gratitudation" Works

   Just celebrating normally isn't enough to qualify for 'gratitudation,' though it will certainly have an impact on your mood and quality of life. Even celebrating a personal accomplishment only gets part-way there. That's because self-gratitudation focuses less on the completion of a task or goal, and more on feeling grateful for your efforts spent.

   So when you're sipping that martini to celebrate finishing the month-long project at work, self-gratitudation encourages you to consider ways to be thankful you put in the effort to begin with. Sure, it's great the work is done, but wasn't it amazing you had that idea or were willing to volunteer for it? Along the way, there were undoubtedly fits and starts that could be turned into valuable data for future endeavors, as well as unique experiences to cherish long into the future!


It's Especially Important For "Failures"

   It's hard to celebrate efforts that simply don't pan out. But the energy, time, and resources were spent on something meant to be worthwhile. Even if the end results are depressing and glum, there were likely many moments to be thankful for. Being willing to take on a risky venture is often an underappreciated trait, because it takes a lot of time and hard-knocks lessons to hone. Not a lot of people are willing to risk failing to even try, which means that trait is actually very valuable! I'm also sure there were/are other valuable lessons and memories to appreciate as well.

   Though it's harder to feel grateful for disappointing outcomes, getting into the habit will help build a resilient self-efficacy and esteem that can weather the ups and downs of an adventurous, entrepreneurial, or otherwise creative life!


   So give it a go, and tell me how it affected you in the comments!