Appreciating your progress?

Earlier this month, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva – the fastest rising star on the WTA circuit – won back-to-back tennis tournaments. And she did it in grand fashion, defeating in consecutive matches the world No. 1 and world No. 2. No small feat.

 

But a line in her victory speech is what drew the world’s attention. After thanking her family, her coaches, tournament staff, sponsors, and fans, she then said, “I would again like to thank myself for fighting until the end and for always believing in me and for never quitting.”

 

At first listen, the words seemed a touch brash. But Oluwatosin Adesoba, writing for vocal.media, framed it well: “Self-acknowledgment is not about arrogance or self-indulgence; rather, it is about fostering a deep appreciation for who you are.” 

 

Self-appreciation is essential  

“In any learning process, appreciating is essential,” writes Robin Zander in her piece for tinyhabitsacademy.com. “Striving is a great attribute. But it is also important to acknowledge with compassion or gratitude where you are right now. The appreciation of progress comes (from) noticing progress.”

 

Back to Adesoba: “It’s easy to focus on our shortcomings. However, recognizing and appreciating yourself is essential for personal growth, self-confidence, and overall well-being. (Often we are) so focused on where we want to be that we forget to acknowledge the progress we’ve already made. Celebrate your achievements, even the minor ones.” 

 

Celebrate your achievements

In a Psychology Today column, psychiatrist Benjamin Cheyette and pediatric neurologist Sarah Cheyette emphasized the importance of appreciating – and celebrating – our achievements, no matter the size. 

 

They explain: “Once a task is completed well, it’s not just the external rewards and consequences that matter. It’s also the internal sense of satisfaction and pride. Knowing that you can and did do well is important.”

 

The Cheyettes add, “The celebration of achievement and the positive emotion you feel is what tells your brain, ‘This is why it was worth it to put in all that hard work. It’s this feeling that I’m going after.’”

 

The antidote to criticism

You’re certainly familiar with the standard scenario: we set a goal and attach a timeframe, yet once we fall behind, self-criticism takes center stage. “The antidote to criticism is appreciation,” says Yancy Wright, writing for the Foundation for Conscious Living. “Appreciation leads to joy, and daily practice can help sustain lifelong joy.”

 

Adds Wright, “The inner critic cannot operate at the same time as creative flow.”

 

Which self will do the talking today?

Writing for nowwithpurpose.com, Azalea (no last name) maintains that “a ‘thank you’ to ourselves is way overdue.” She took the bold step of crafting a letter to herself in which she thanked Azalea for her strength, persistence, resilience, and integrity and for “never caving into the pressure of perfection.”

 

It is commonly said that we’re our own worst critic and that, too often, we slip into self-judgment, self-criticism, and self-indulgence. But another path begs our attention: self-care, self-trust, self-compassion, and self-appreciation, all of which inevitably lead to building self-esteem and self-confidence. 

 

Which self will do the talking today?