When did you last stop and say I am celebrating who I am? I don’t mean you celebrated a birthday or anniversary, I mean you took a good look at yourself and high fived yourself for just being you.
We are all in the process of evolving and becoming a better version of who we were just a moment ago, even if it doesn’t feel like it – you are. Yet when we get to the end of the day we rarely say ‘Hey you. You did well.’
Maybe it feels strange celebrating the small stuff?
Is it perhaps that because the way that we evolve is barely noticeable that we simply sweep it under the carpet?
Take a moment to consider how you got to this point in your life. I think of it a process where we go through revolution, revelation and into evolution.
Let’s explore…
What is revolution, revelation and evolution?
Revolution is about systems and structures, evolution is about people and genetics. Systems and structures can evolve and people can revolt, but what are they really and how can we use revolution and evolution to change the way in which we lead, love and laugh?
Humans are adaptable, creative and innovative and we have an amazing ability to change and to create change. That can be abrupt and rapid change when faced with something that may be unacceptable, scary, frustrating but equally creative and innovative. Or it can be slow and considered change.
Without revolution, you cannot evolve and without evolution, there is no space to revolt. One begets the other. One is slow, the other fast. One has well placed and considered passion, the other has often has explosive and fiery passion. They are the yin and yang of life.
In the midst of revolution comes revelation which allows the unfurling of evolutionary change.
Revolution
Revolution originally comes from the way in which the planets revolve. Not that I am a scientist, but for me, that means something fairly predictable since we know that all of the planets move in typically fixed ways – they revolve around each other.
Though of course despite the planets moving in a pattern, there will always be other cosmic interruptions which do not form the norm and are therefore not predictable. And so you can imagine that as the disruptions from the skies erupted and disturbed man the word revolution changed (evolved) to mean something else.
Often when I think about revolution, what comes to mind are fights, wars, battles, disorder, governments being overthrown, blurred lines, no winners and certainly nothing remotely predictable.
But I also feel that revolutions can be born out a desire to create change quickly. People who subscribe to revolution want to crush old ways and make way for new order but not necessarily with that associated fear, frustration and anger.
Revolution can be about resolution without obliteration. Revolution can be about innovation, creativity and change for the good but with rapid growth pains.
Revelation (AKA your wake up call)
Imagine receiving a divine message, one that asks you to wake up and to uncover what is already known to you? How annoying to discover that everything was already inside of you but you just didn’t realise it.
Does knowledge accumulate or is it something that is also already known to you, but it needs slowing uncovering through life’s lessons? Consider the knowledge you will have gained as your life progresses. It appears cumulative and in small chunks. Or is it and does it matter how it comes as long as you take an active role in doing something with that knowledge?
Nothing is going to change because of the knowledge you have about a situation. What changes is the insight you gain from reflection? It is the knitting together different strands of knowledge and interweaving them with reflections that give you an epiphany and true insight.
It is through the insight you gain from each revelation that helps you to become a different person. And with your suitcase full of revelations you can start a new journey and evolve into the person you are destined to become and have always been.
Evolution
Evolution is about the gradual change of populations across generations. It is about transformation as people respond to their environment. It is a gradual development of anything. It is expansion into who you are meant to be.
What of your own personal revolution and evolution?
Think for a moment of every revolution in your life. Times of abrupt change, followed by times of quiet consideration. Eruptions, solitude, eruptions, quietude and so your personal world revolves and evolves.
Naturally and sadly your personal revolution could have been violent. Not all of the changes you go through are pleasant. Divorce, redundancy, death are just a few of life’s less fun events, but without them, there would not be an opportunity for change. These short-lived radical outbursts create pivot points for change and a time to breathe. They create opportunities for evolution. They present revelations.
If nothing had happened to me, if I hadn’t travelled this path, I wouldn’t have beautiful gifts to share. You too will receive gifts from your adventures.
And here you are, recognise how you got here
All of your life has been revolution, revelation and evolution and what is often missing is recognising and celebrating who you are. Right now is the time for this to end.
Right now is the time for you to celebrate the small stuff, the everyday stuff, the stuff that goes to make you the person you are.
How can you bring celebrating you into everyday life?
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey
I love to spell words out and use them for journaling ideas. Here’s a few for you.
Celebrating you – journaling ideas
Created
Think about what you have created today? It could be the best peanut butter and jam sandwich, but equally, it could be something that you have done that has contributed to your goals or community.
Evolution
How have you evolved today? What one small step have you taken towards your best self? Today I took the final step in celebration and took some time out to be in the now. I needed to recharge my batteries and it was certainly a gift.
Learned
What have you learned today? I have a journal that I write my lessons in life in. I ask what life lesson have I learned today? One of my lessons in life was ‘do not assume’.
Evolve
In what ways have you evolved today? These are the small things, the ones that you rarely notice.
Brave
Bravery can be about trying something new. Perhaps something that you might not have tackled before like risking being wrong. What about setting boundaries with someone for the first time (I did a few days ago)? What have you done today that is a big step in being brave?
Reflecting
One of the best ways to get clarity when journaling is to go back and read what you have written and reflected on it. It is in reflecting that you will find loads of insight and aha’s.
Adventure
So did you have an adventure today? I think every day is an adventure, even if it seems mundane. There is always something new to embrace. What happened on your adventure today?
Truth
Truth is what frees us.
“The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that, but I Am.” – Eckhart Tolle
Reflect on this quote and consider how you experience who you are, not as things or labels, but more – how you experience life as you.
Intuition
When you don’t listen to your intuition you will miss the good stuff. That little voice in your head is guiding you. Listen. When you listen celebrate that you did. I was driving down the mountain when my inner voice said go slower. I moved from 5th to 3rd and crawled into the next outcrop of houses and what did I see? A mummy Podenco with her baby crossing the road. I celebrated their lives and that I listened.
Now
We hear about being in the now all the time and yet we rarely simply sit and be with the now. Busy, busy seems to be the norm. A reward and celebration at the end of the day is time with you. I like to end my day with meditation. It’s time to switch off and celebrate another day well-lived.
Goodness
Think of all the goodness in your life. Surely this is worth celebrating. Where did goodness show up today?
And finally a note on self-love
To be able to celebrate you I believe that you must do this from a place of self-love. When you love yourself you can achieve anything. I’ll leave you with this question – do I love myself enough to?
Journaling prompts
Grab your journal, pick one or two and explore.
- When did you last stop and celebrate who you are?
- How awake and aware are you, of who you are and your divine wisdom?
- What is the biggest revelation you have had from your day (week, month, year, life)?
- In what ways have you evolved today??
- What did you create today that you want to celebrate?
- What one small step have you taken towards your best self?
- What opportunities did you seize today?
- What have you learned today?
- What have you done today that is a big step in being brave?
- What boundaries did you set today?
- When you listened to your intuition today what did you discover?
- What have you done to switch off today? How did that work for you?
- When will you take some time today to be in the now?
- Where did goodness show up today?
If you love journaling and getting to the heart of who you are, you will love my journaling books
Get a journal for the journey and have fun. I have a selection of gratitude journals on Amazon
- Love To Journal: Gratitude – Exploring Your Roots And Foundations
- Love To Journal: Gratitude – Creating A Heart Connection