🦎 Praising Yourself Without Guilt: Leadership Begins with Self-Affirmation - Do not wait for validation.

Inspired by Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”

By L2M Coaching

“The lizard that jumped from the high iroko tree said, ‘I will praise myself if no one else does.’” Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

There’s a quiet power in this African proverb one that speaks to anyone who's ever worked hard, stretched themselves, taken a leap… and waited for applause that never came.

We’ve all been there. You put in the extra hours. You showed up when it was hard. You led with integrity when no one was watching.

And then… nothing. No thank you.No recognition.No applause.

In those moments, it’s easy to question your worth or wonder if the effort even mattered.

But here’s the truth:It did.And you don’t need permission to celebrate it.

💬 The Lizard Teaches Us a Leadership Lesson

Achebe’s lizard doesn’t need a crowd. It just needs truth. It knows what it did it leapt from a high place, landed with grace, and lived to tell the tale.

So it praises itself.

This is not arrogance. It’s emotional resilience. It’s self-leadership. It’s knowing that your value isn’t dependent on the applause of others.

✨ What Does Self-Praise Look Like in Real Life?

Self-praise doesn’t mean shouting about your wins on every rooftop. It means:

• Taking a moment to reflect on what you’ve overcome.

• Journaling a personal win at the end of a long day.

• Speaking kindly to yourself after a brave decision.

• Telling your inner critic, “I showed up and that counts.”

It’s creating space to say:

"That was tough, and I handled it.""That meeting went better because I prepared well.""I stayed true to my values today even when no one saw."

🔍 Reflection Prompt

• When was the last time you achieved something… and waited for someone else to notice?

• What would it look like to intentionally celebrate yourself even in small, quiet ways?

• Where in your life are you the lizard right now jumping bravely and quietly?

  
  

🟢 Bonus Reflection:

Do I measure my worth only by others’ validation or do I also hear my own applause?

🧭 Final Thought: Lead Yourself First

Self-affirmation is not a luxury.It’s a leadership practice.

If you don’t acknowledge your growth, your resilience, your leaps who will?

Sometimes, leadership isn’t loud.It’s a whisper that says:

“You did well. I’m proud of you.”

So today, be the lizard.Jump bravely.Land boldly.And if no one else says it…Praise yourself.

🟡 Ready to lead yourself better before leading others? Join the L2M Leadership Circle or explore one-to-one coaching to build confidence, emotional resilience, and unapologetic self-worth.

🔗 Book a discovery call🔗 Browse self-leadership tools on Etsy

#SelfLeadership #PraiseYourself #L2MCoaching #ThingsFallApart #AfricanWisdom #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalResilience #SelfAffirmation