And the award goes to...

In a world where humility is often celebrated, there are so many times when we downplay our successes or share them by giving credit to others who helped us along the way. While recognizing the contributions of others is important because it allows us to acknowledge the love, care, and support of the people around us, there needs to come a time when we can “toot our own horn.”

Sunday evening, while watching the Oscars, I caught a glimpse of someone accepting an award that stood out to me. Emma Stone was awarded Best Actress in a Leading Role for the movie, Poor Things. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, this award is given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film that year. Based on this definition, I would expect a speech much like the one from Snoop Dogg when he received his Walk of Fame star, where he says, “Last but not least, I want to thank me. I want to thank me for believing in me. I want to thank me for doing all this hard work. I want to thank me for having no days off. I want to thank me for never quitting.”

Instead, Emma said that she had spoken to the film's director, Yorgos Lanthimos, earlier, and he told her, “Please take yourself out of it (the spotlight), and he was right because it’s not about me.”

At this point, I found myself asking, “If it’s not about you, then who is it about?” Why was the director of the film telling her to not make it about her? Isn't the award that honors an outstanding performance in a leading role about the woman who worked hard and achieved the actual outcome?

Like I said earlier, I fully understand the importance of appreciating the people around you who help you succeed. But in the end, is it wrong to also be proud of yourself publicly for outstanding work? I think not!

There is a moment in the Barbie movie that comes to mind that illustrates this very point. Barbie receives the Nobel Prize and says, “I worked hard for this. I deserve it.” This was followed by all the other Barbies clapping, smiling, and nodding, clearly happy for her.

There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance but embracing pride in our accomplishments doesn’t have to tip the scale toward the latter. It’s all about balance and recognizing our own efforts without diminishing the contributions of others. On one hand, Emma Stone relied on the actors, actresses, and directors around her to make this role possible. But on the other hand, a different actress could have been hired for the part of Bella Baxter and worked with all the same people, yet not performed well enough to win the Academy Award. In the end, it was the hard work, dedication, and accomplishment of Emma Stone that won the award.

By sharing our successes, we show others what is possible and encourage them to pursue their own goals with determination and passion. Additionally, celebrating our “wins” reinforces the idea that taking credit for our hard work is okay. We shouldn’t feel guilty or ashamed for being proud of ourselves. Instead, we should embrace our milestones toward personal and professional growth.

To embrace a bit of self-love, try these tips:

1. Own your success: Instead of deflecting praise to external factors, take ownership of your effort, time, and dedication to reaching your goals.

2. Share your story: You can inspire others who may be facing similar challenges by showing them that success is possible with perseverance and resilience.

3. Support others: Become a cheerleader for others, creating a culture of positivity and encouragement.

And never forget, when you accomplish something – DON’T take yourself out of it!