It's Okay to Brag: When is the Right Time?
Successful people know that it's okay to brag sometimes and that it can indeed be healthy to publicly pat yourself on the back. If you're feeling good about yourself, go ahead and brag to your friends or family. It's okay to boast when it is appropriate!
However, if bragging has become an addiction for self-esteem purposes, then this is an unhealthy way of keeping up with the Joneses (or in 2021 - the Kardashians). So when is it the right time to boast? The answer can be different for everyone, but there are a few tips you can follow to determine when bragging will be appropriate.
When is the right time to brag about your accomplishments and successes in life, and when should you keep them to yourself?
If you're reading this post, you should be probably be more open about your accomplishments and successes. For one thing, your success can inspire others. Also, people want to celebrate success, and they now know more about you!
When it is not appropriate to brag? I'd say bragging about your accomplishments and successes is only inappropriate if you are boasting with the intent of making others feel bad. For example, if describing an accomplishment or success is done with the purpose of inspiring jealousy in others, then this type of behavior is wrong.
How do you know the rules of where you can or should boast? For instance, is it appropriate or not to boast about your achievements on social media? What about when you're hanging out with friends and family?
The rules of where you can or should boast are NOT universal. On social media, you don't get to control when people read your boasts--it's ok to post your accomplishments while you're on vacation if you don't care about who might see the post. But it's not appropriate to boast in an online forum or group that is specifically designated as a community for others with those same challenges as yours--you are taking up space and making other members feel bad.
What does it really mean when someone says "I'm proud of myself for accomplishing _________"?
A person may say they're proud of themselves for accomplishing something if it took a lot of work and dedication to complete. They may also be happy with the result as well, or that they have accomplished something new. Usually it means that they have learned something about themselves and they can carry that knowledge and confidence with them going forward.
Why is there a social stigma against bragging? Why can't we just celebrate our own accomplishments without feeling guilty for being proud of ourselves for achieving something through hard work?
There is a social stigma against bragging because many people believe it's important to be humble and selfless--such feelings come from hierarchical social structures. But, some also feel that if you're not proud of your own accomplishments then why should anyone else be? You need to celebrate our own accomplishments without feeling guilty because you earned the right!
What are some ways people can feel more comfortable sharing their success stories without coming off as arrogant or self-centered while still giving others an opportunity to congratulate them on their achievement(s) without sounding like they're fishing for compliments?
How about the rich heiress who brags about how rich she is? Or the child of a politician who boasts about their popularity? One universal rule that I think we can all agree on--bragging about anything that was not produced by your own hard work is just wrong.
The next time you feel like bragging about your accomplishments, go ahead and do it! When we celebrate our successes, not only does that boost our confidence but also it can help us see the things in life worth celebrating. So be proud of yourself and don’t let anyone make you feel bad for being happy with what you have accomplished. If there is something new to brag about or if you just want a refresher on how to best manage this behavior when appropriate, reach out today - we are here to support you all the way through this process. Own your accomplishments and live a life worth boasting about!