I was recently nominated for an award. I didn’t ask to be – I only became that I was on a shortlist via social media.

It is, of course, both an honour and humbling to be on such a list. As it was not something I had been seeking, I therefore told myself that, flattering as it was, it was not of great interest to me.

I was not even sure when or how I would be informed of the result. I therefore put it out of my mind.

Or so I thought.

I spoke to someone who was also on the shortlist. They wished me ‘good luck for tonight’. When I asked what they were referring to, they explained that the dinner for the award for which I had been nominated was that evening, and the winner was to be announced.

The fact that I had not been invited to the awards dinner gave me a pretty big hint that I was not going to win!

Nevertheless, I did keep an eye on my social media that evening, especially as several friends were also up for awards. As expected, I didn’t win the category in which I had been nominated.

The next morning, carrying on with my day job helping owners who want to sell to an Employee Ownership Trust, I felt a little flat. I couldn’t work out why.

After a while, it dawned on me. Perhaps it was because I did not win that award.

This struck me as being somewhat ridiculous. I hadn’t entered myself for the award; I hadn’t attended the dinner; and I thought the winner to be entirely deserving (as were all the nominees). Had no one told me about the nomination, I wouldn’t even have known, and I would be feeling fine this morning.

The whole experience happened around me. So how had something that has nothing to do with me, creep in and directly impact me?

I gave myself a metaphorical kick up the pants. For a while I toyed with the idea of asking not to be nominated for such awards, then told myself that was equally as ridiculous – if I had won, I would, of course, have been at that dinner like a shot!

What it did remind me, however, is one of the central planks to happiness, that of focussing on your own feelings, and not chasing the acceptance of others.

Professional sports people often say they are unconcerned with records, they will leave that to to the fans or for when they are retired. This allows them to focus on what they are doing in the here and now.

As for me, I find talking about things to be cathartic. I feel much better now.

Congratulations to Anna Soffat for winning personality of the year at the Professional Advisor awards.

If you are interested to learn more about financial wellbeing, or have knowledge or experience to share, come and join us at the IFW (Initiative for Financial Wellbeing)