Self-celebration is a strange concept, but here is why it's so important.
You have probably realised by now that I am a pretty outgoing guy. I don't mind a selfie or putting myself online from time to time. I'm a personal branding guy so kinda goes with the job!
The goal of my personal social channels of Instagram and Facebook is to keep in contact with my many varied friends across the world. I have been blessed to have met so many awesome people in my life and like to keep in touch with them, which is pretty much why these channels were first invented. If we haven't connected yet, come say hi!
My business social channel of LinkedIn is to benefit my connections with some sort of learning or idea and not just 'hey look at me' fluff, so I hope that comes across.
One thing you will notice on social media is that your birthday get's alerted to all your contacts. Some people love this feature and some don't. Interestingly, a few years ago as I got more birthday messages on LinkedIn than Facebook - that's when I knew it had tipped to a business social channel.
But back to the birthday story; once a year we all have this strange thing called a birthday. A change in number for our age and a lot of emotional baggage that goes along with that too. Some feel elated and celebrate with a party, others hide away and don't even want to acknowledge it. I had a close friend that told me recently that "it's just another day". How sad I thought. It's a special day so why pass it off like it doesn't matter?
I think the main reason so many want to avoid birthdays is the fact it makes you compare yourself to others and also the high expected goals you once set for yourself. It's hard to live up to societies expectations of what you 'should' have/done/earnt etc It's even harder to let go of some of the goals we wanted for ourselves, careers/houses/children/relationships...
My thinking around birthdays is it's a time to get honest and celebrate our real selves. We can always focus on what we don't have, but how about what we do have? Find your personal success and celebrate it in some way to show yourself that yes you are important and yes it is a special day. It's called self-love and it's not a dirty word.
This year, because of a particularly difficult 2019, I took myself to Japan with some great old mates to go skiing. A treat to myself. It's the one time of year I put myself first and to be honest, it's hard to do! Getting away was pretty tough with all my commitments, but if last year taught me anything, we could be gone tomorrow so might as well live for today.
So my advice to you is when it's next to your birthday, do something you really love. Think of all the ways you are awesome, write them down if you need some focus. Be a little selfish, and treat yourself like you are important. Because you are.
Andrew