A New Kind of Accountability
As a doer, I’m very used to holding myself accountable and surrounding myself with a similar group of high-level doers that act as my safety net. These women make sure I don’t play small through loving, supportive words. It’s a powerful sisterhood where our collective energy boosts each of us. It’s also a place where we can borrow energy from each other when we cannot seem to muster enough for ourselves.
It is a diverse group where we are seen and have the opportunity to bear witness. We each play a role in creating a safe space where we learn, grow, lean on and remember to lean in.
You probably have your own circle of sisters (and brothers).
I have recently found a new way to support them. Celebration! This in itself is not a new concept. One of the greatest parts of having these women in my life is that I get to share my joy with them. But, here’s the twist. I’ve begun to celebrate the action we take in addition to the outcome. (This starts with being able to celebrate yourself and your actions.)
When we celebrate doing the work, we celebrate ourselves. This act creates empowerment. Because when we celebrate action, we’re celebrating the only part of life we have control over – ourselves. Keeping the focus on what we do (can do/want to do) means remembering that we get to choose what we do with our lives.
I cannot choose what comes my way, but I absolutely can choose what I do with it.
Try this with your inner circle, outer circle, or anyone! Celebrate action. Hold each friend accountable to celebrating herself for taking an intentional step. Job applications, business ventures, new attitudes, changing old beliefs…whatever it is – celebrate.
Celebration is really just a pause. A wait-just-a-second-I’ve-just-done-something acknowledgement. It’s you taking a deep breath and smiling, making a cup of tea, popping some champagne, reading a book, getting a manicure, calling up a friend. It’s just a heartfelt moment with yourself accepting your willingness to be expansive.
“Whatever thoughts we repeat most often and with the most emotional intensity, we reinforce.” Marie Forleo
