When you score, own it.

Yesterday, I played soccer with some friends. I played quite well, with four assists and a goal of my own. When I scored, rather than just getting on with it, I did something that people who are too self deprecating often do – I attributed these ‘accomplishments’ to luck rather than skill. I told my teammates ‘my goal was a lucky one’. 

This is something that I need to be more aware of in my life. When am I making something harder for myself to celebrate? What other smaller wins am I completely taking for granted or not feeling proud of? 

When I said what I said to my teammates, I tried to figure out why I’d expressed myself in that way. Was this false humility? Was this discomfort with the responsibilities of maneuvering successfully in this game? All I know is that as soon as I said what I said, things did not feel right. I felt like I was cheapening myself. Selling myself too short. 

If accomplishments are earned, they should be celebrated. If opportunities fall into your lap, don’t take them for granted. If your hard work paid off, that is not something to be ashamed of. If you’re doing better than other people around you in a specific domain, it isn’t helping them to cheapen what you’ve provided. Doing better than someone else is not nearly as important as doing better than yourself in the past. 

Don’t bastardize your accomplishments. Use your accomplishments to help yourself and others. Use your skill sets to maximize the good that you bring into the world. Be humble while knowing you have intrinsic value. The best performers on the field aren’t just scoring the goals. Their primary responsibilities are defined by their positions & on top of that when possible – they are helping the team by creating opportunities for others.