First of all, if you don’t believe your time and presence is valuable, how can you expect anyone else to? Sit on that for a minute. No, literally…set a timer on your phone for one minute, just sixty seconds, and reflect on whether or not you go into each day recognizing the value you have to offer.
*cue timer going off*
If you caught yourself slipping thinking damn I really allow my own insecurity to outshine the value I know I bring to the table, then getting a hold of that is step 1.
If you feel confident in your ability to not only recognize your own value, but expect others to do the same, then you’re already paving a bright path for yourself, so onto step 2.
Why would we ever waste our time, energy, or effort on anyone or anything that doesn’t respect the value we have to offer? The right answer here is; we wouldn’t. It’s simple to say this now, but when you find yourself in a situation that tests your worth, you have to be prepared to look at that bull right in the eye and find the strength to walk away. If it’s not propelling you forward in life, getting you closer to where we want to be, to your dreams, to your goals, to whatever you’re after, then what are you doing wasting your precious time and value?
As hard as it is to recognize that light we have within us that makes us a little more special and stand out a little bit more, it’s even harder to act on it. Here’s a quick story that actually inspired this piece.
I was interning in the heart of LA, a literal dream come true. I started my time in the city of angels with two internships because I was ambitious and wanted to test the waters of two completely different industries, both of which were of interest to me at the time. Only a couple of weeks in I found myself sitting at my Monday-Tuesday internship at a desk from 10-5 doing close to nothing. I wasn’t being offered any direction, I wasn’t learning, hell I was barely being acknowledged when I walked through the door at 9:55 every morning as I eagerly walked through the door greeting everyone with a bright and happy “good morning” to get literal crickets as a response back…crickets in a room with several people. That’s’ simply a lack of respect and that put me over the edge in addition to my time being completely wasted. I would ask for tasks, see where I could help, but to no avail. Since I had so much damn time to think at this internship, I opened my eyes to the fact that my time and my presence was not being valued at this company. Despite my efforts and eagerness, the company seemed to value petty drama and gossip over an intern ready to work and succeed. Instead of forcing my presence on this company, I did the complete opposite. I rid them of my presence. I put my time, effort, energy, and presence toward my other internship opportunity where the environment was pure, the people were respected and respectful, and my work was useful. Oh what a change in pace it was to devote myself to a place where I was valued and my work was making a difference.
If any of you feel stuck in a situation, a relationship, a friendship, a course, a career, anything that you feel isn’t supporting you and your growth, I encourage you to find the courage within yourself to walk away. Respecting yourself enough to leave a person or a place you’ve outgrown may be a tough pill to swallow at first, but we aren’t after comfort in this life are we? No. We’re about leveling up and stimulating ourselves in a place of continuous growth. If I can walk away, so can you. You just have to know the value of your time and presence to do so. And guess what, I didn’t look back, only forward, in the direction I was going.
xx,
Kay
