I am not ashamed to say that I had an amazing year. I grew tremendously because I took some risks. I held my very first large-scale event—Fit & Fab Girls Weekend. I made many mistakes and even tripped over my own two feet at times, but I did it.
At Fit & Fab Girls Weekend I had the pleasure of having CeCe Olisa as a guest speaker—someone whom I’ve admired from afar for about a year or so. She said something during her panel at my event that still echoes in my ear to this day, “It’s okay to be cocky.”
I know that being cocky has a rather negative connotation, but in the context of her conversation it made so much sense. It is okay to celebrate yourself, your achievements, your body type, your amazingness, or your whatever at any time.
Why do we so often feel guilty when we praise ourselves? And, why do we so sheepishly shrug off compliments from others by saying, “Thanks, and so are you!”?
Maybe it’s safer to do this. To make ourselves appear smaller than we really are. I’ve learned a long time ago that I am anything but small—I talk big, I walk big, have a big dress size, wear big jewelry, I even come from a big family! And you know what, that’s okay. It’s okay to be cocky.
In 2016, I discovered so many new gifts and talents within me. For instance, I’ve learned that I am a budding graphic designer, I have a knack at building strategic partnerships, and I am refining the art of skillfully negotiating contracts. I am so proud of myself for sharpening these skills.
Before you finalize your list of goals for 2017, my challenge to you is this: Acknowledge your reasons to feel cocky in 2016.
Include things big and small, even things that may have been unnoticeable to others. Then do the following:
- Write these accomplishments down on paper to memorialize them.
- Take a day or two to relish in your accomplishments.
- Tell at least one person about them.
Want to take this a step further? Comment below and share one thing you did that made you proud in 2016. I am still deciding which goals I will focus on in 2017. Whichever I decide, I will certainly not be afraid to be a little cocky. How about you?
PS – In case you missed it, here are some pix from the first annual Fit & Fab Girls Weekend. Have serious FOMO (fear of missing out)? Subscribe to my mailing list now to get details on Fit & Fab Girls Weekend 2017 before everyone else. Dates and location will be announced soon.
Happy New Year!
