55 reasons why you should buy yourself flowers.
Vol. 1, Issue 2
Radical change doesn't come from grandiose gestures. It's in the subtle everyday moments that shape who we are. Yet, how often do you take the time to honor those small wins? We may notice the small changes but avoid showing appreciation for our growth because we think we're behind and quickly move on to the next goal.
We often fear that celebrating ourselves might slow us down or distract us. However, research shows that recognizing progress, no matter how small, creates momentum, confidence, and motivation to keep going. A study (https://hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins) identified both the positive and negative indicators that impact the performance of knowledge workers (i.e., scientists, marketers, programmers, and others whose jobs require heavy creative output). From 238 people, 1,200 diary entries were analyzed, and they found that no matter the size, progression toward a meaningful goal produces an enormous amount of motivation. The study found moving the needle by a hair each day will build your confidence as you strive toward future success. Queen, real confidence is all about making promises and following through until the task is finished. Don’t you think that’s worth celebrating?
The floral boutique isn’t just pretty, it’s proof that you honor your own presence. Here are 55 reasons why you should celebrate your small wins, because once upon a time, even these small moments felt impossible.
Mindful Moments and Reflection
You enjoyed an activity not attached to an outcome
You took a moment to pause and reflect before you reacted to those feelings
Caught yourself when you complained about something you cannot control and pivoted into a different direction
Made a conscious choice not to entertain a silly thought
You broke free from keeping busy and took a mindful walk and smelled some roses
Embraced boredom
You let go of perfectionism and showed up imperfectly
You sat in gratitude and recognized the beauty in the present moment
Self-Compassion & Gratitude
Wrote in your gratitude journal one week straight
You forgave yourself for making a mistake today
Allowed yourself to “fail” at something without criticizing yourself
Gazed in the mirror and told yourself things you wanted to hear
Gave yourself a moment of realization that you are human, and give yourself grace and time to make progress
You caught yourself in self-criticism and chose compassion instead
You thanked your body for supporting you
You sent a gratitude text to the people in your life who support you
You created a self-love mantra and repeated it daily
You embraced the beauties of your imperfections
Connection & Vulnerability
You leaned into vulnerability with a friend
Accepted the compliment
You wrote a letter of forgiveness to someone else
Practice mindful listening while chatting with a loved one
Spoke up about something that was stored deep in your heart
Accepted someone else's differences without judgment
You released unrealistic expectations of yourself and others
You set and honored a boundary with someone
You stepped out of your comfort zone and taught someone else something new
Joyful & Playfulness
Made time for play and smiled while doing so
Took yourself out on a solo date
Engaged in a fun activity and got over the fear of looking silly
Stood in a check-out aisle and enjoyed patience without reaching for your cell phone
Tried something new before saying, “I don’t like that”
You crank up your favorite playlist and dance alone for no apparent reason
You dressed up and wore your favorite outfit without a need for a special occasion and released the fear that you were “doing too much”
Self-Discovery & Creativity
Wrote yourself a love letter from start to finish
Read a chapter from a book that is part of your daily and intellectual maintenance
You allowed yourself to daydream without guilt or feelings of “wasting time.”
Cooked a meal for yourself, sat down, and practiced mindful eating with every single bite, paying close attention to texture, smell, and taste
You took a mini-course to advance a skill
You completed a DIY project and allowed yourself to be okay with the outcome
You found clarity in a value and acknowledged how you lived up to this value
Personal Growth & Empowerment
Took full responsibility and apologized in a challenging situation
Completed something you once said was hard to do
Chose to be free rather than fighting to be right
Completed your meditation because you wanted to, not "had" to
You took a break from social media to reconnect with yourself
You reframed a negative thought into a positive one
You cleaned and reorganized your space to feel fresh and tidy
You acknowledged your resilience after a hard day
Lastly, you created a beautiful ritual centered around buying flowers to celebrate yourself. I can bet you at least five of these points sound familiar, so what are you waiting for? Run out today and buy yourself that gorgeous bouquet, not as a reward for being perfect but as a reminder of the beauty of your progress.
