P3: Celebrating Failure, Impostor Syndrome, and Gratitude Rx

Have you heard about Sarah Blakely and her approach to failure? Blakely is the youngest self-made billionaire and founder of Spanx. Listen to what she said when asked about the secret to her success:

In the Just One Pivot podcast episode #3, I expand on the following perspective: If you find yourself in a slump, in a state of depression, paralyzed by fear or anxiety over your circumstances, your performance, or your future—or you are hard on yourself and others, chances are you have a vitamin “C” deficiency, and by that, I mean the practice of Celebration.

In the episode, I also tell the story of acclaimed Melody Beattie, who started drinking at age 12, was an alcoholic by age 13, and a drug addict by 18. You can listen here.

Episode #3 Takeaways

1. Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity: Sarah Blakely’s story is a fantastic reminder that failure isn’t the end—it’s just a stepping stone to success. Celebrating our failures can help us develop a growth mindset and encourage us to innovate.

2. The Power of Celebration: Celebrating our achievements, big or small, helps develop self-awareness and build momentum. This is especially important for those who constantly chase the next goal and often forget to acknowledge progress.

3. Metabolizing Achievements Through Celebration and Gratitude: Celebration and gratitude are vitamins our soul needs to process and appreciate our achievements. This practice can help counteract Impostor Syndrome by allowing us to internalize our successes and build self-appreciation.

Science Spotlight: Benefits of Gratitude

1. Improved Mental Health: Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Grateful people experience more positive emotions, relish good experiences, and build strong relationships.

2. Enhanced Physical Health: A Journal of Psychosomatic Research study revealed that gratitude is linked to better physical health: Grateful individuals report fewer aches and pains and are more likely to care for their health.

3. Increased Resilience: According to a study in the Journal of Positive Psychology, gratitude can enhance resilience in the face of adversity. Grateful individuals are better equipped to cope with stress and recover from traumatic events.

Ideas to Initiate a Practice of Celebration

1. Daily Gratitude Journaling: Start or end your day by jotting down three things you’re grateful for. This simple habit can shift your focus from what’s missing to what’s abundant in your life.

2. Create a Celebration Ritual: Develop a personal or team ritual for celebrating achievements and failures. It could be a dance, a high-five, or a special treat. Rituals create a sense of joy and anticipation around courage, boldness, innovation, and success.

3. Reflect on Your Journey: Reflect on how far you’ve come and the challenges you’ve overcome. This reflection can help you appreciate your efforts and motivate you to keep progressing.

Your Turn

In the past two installments, I’ve challenged you to ask the question, “What’s my next best move?” Today, you have two questions to jumpstart your next best move:

1. What can I celebrate today?

2. What am I grateful for?

Don’t stop at one or two responses. Can you set a timer for 5-10 minutes and see how long of a list you can come up with? That is today’s pivot. And remember…

Now go celebrate and have a very grateful day.

P.S. If you find this newsletter and podcast helpful, share it with someone who may benefit.