When "I am proud of you" resonates

Yesterday I received an 8 item email from my friend and colleague Lauren Cleveland (with Envision Works--not a shameless plug because I feel no shame in saying it) and item number 8 read:

"I'm Proud of You"

In the moment it did not mean much.  It made me smile.  I thought "oh that's nice" and I moved on to the next item on my growing to do list.

Later that afternoon I treated myself to an afternoon cocktail of anxiety, despair, questioning myself and frustration, on the rocks of course.  On the edge of tears because things are not falling into place the way I need them to in my grand time line  item number 8 came back to me:

"I'm Proud of You"

Five words.

Five words that resonated with me in that moment when I needed to be told by another human being they were proud of me.  Little ol' me.  And it changed my attitude, my outlook and my trajectory.  I was headed toward an evening that followed my cocktail with a pity party dinner for one but instead I reminded myself of why I am doing what I am doing.  I am doing it because it is what I was born to do.  It is what matters to me.  And others may not see it, or get it, or turn out for it but that is their loss not mine.

The takeaway is simple: tell people you are proud of them.  Don't take it for granted that they know.

Cheers.