There's this subtle nuance in Japanese where you acknowledge your own actions with a mix of pride and self-awareness, and English has some interesting equivalents. 'I must say' carries that tone when you're about to compliment yourself—like when finishing a difficult project ('I must say, I nailed that presentation').
Another favorite is 'I'll pat myself on the back for that one,' which feels playful yet sincere. It works great for smaller victories, like cooking a perfect steak. The phrase 'Not to toot my own horn, but...' is more self-deprecating, often used before humblebragging about skills ('Not to toot my own horn, but my homemade ramen rivals restaurant quality'). Each of these captures the original sentiment while adapting to English conversational rhythms.