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191. Why You Can’t Celebrate Yourself (Even When You’ve Earned It)| 10 Min Journal Prompts
Episode 19130th October 2025 • Journal Entries • Samantha Hawley | Inspired by Brene Brown, Glennon Doyle, Marie Forleo, Hillary Kerr, Mel Robbins
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You finally did the thing — got the promotion, hit the goal, made it through another hard week — but instead of feeling proud, you're already asking, "What's next?" Why is it so hard to just pause and celebrate yourself?

My client Kristi became CFO after 3 years of working toward it. When she told me, she said, "So I guess that means I'm officially the CFO"—like she'd just completed another Tuesday task. No excitement. No pride. Just... what's next?

If you're someone who keeps raising the bar higher every time you reach it, you're not alone. Most high-achieving women were taught that humility and hustle matter more than satisfaction. So even when you've earned the right to rest or be proud, it feels... uncomfortable. Like celebrating might make you lazy, or ungrateful, or seen as "too much."

Journal Prompts:

  1. What’s the last thing you accomplished that you didn’t celebrate?
  2. When you think about celebrating it, what thought immediately follows?
  3. If your child achieved the same thing, what would you tell them to believe about their worth?
  4. What are you afraid might happen if you actually celebrated your wins?

These 10 minutes will help you see how the pattern started—and what it's costing you. Not just celebration, but the ability to feel successful no matter what you accomplish.

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