You're at a wedding. Or family party. Suddenly that sound starts. Everyone on the dance floor. Now. Because Kool and the Gang knows how to celebrate.
The other day I was talking with a fellow artist friend saying how hard it is to remember to celebrate. I paused for a moment wondering why that is.
You see, when you live constantly in the tension of what you want to see realized and where you actually are, it creates intense drive (or depression, but that's another post for another day). And that drive and hunger, while good at propelling you forward, is terrible for remembering to stop and celebrate. Because the hungry voice says, "Who has time to celebrate? Look at how much more has to be done."
The problem is that if we don't stop and celebrate, we'll feel a constant sense of never measuring up. We forget that there are great things that have and are happening today. Because we let the demands of tomorrow overshadow them.
Call it a strive for excellence. Call it hunger to achieve. Call it what you want, but unless we balance it with celebration, we can collapse under the weight and pressure.
Celebrating causes you to be thankful. Grateful. Joyful. And it can help you remember why you're doing what you're in the first place.
Write a list of the things that are going right. Tell a friend about breakthroughs you've had this week (no matter how small they may seem). Reread that encouraging email or Facebook comment about your work.
Are you starting to feel it?
Yahoo! This is your celebration!
Celebrate good times! Come on!
Well, Kool and the Gang are calling me to the dance floor. It's time to celebrate!