In this article, I want to share something important. Something different, yet something that is essential when it comes to your career and life.
In my work with hundreds of people from different backgrounds, different industries, different upbringings, different goals, etc., the biggest obstacle I see people having to overcome is themselves. It is that little voice inside your head that says you cannot do it, you don’t deserve it, you are not good enough, you are dreaming too big, it is not possible, etc. We all know that voice very well. It comes and goes for some of us; for others, that is the only voice we hear. I want to make something clear in this, that voice is YOU, it is you telling yourself all those things; which means that YOU also have the power to quiet down that voice. You might argue and say it is difficult to do so and no one said it is easy, but is it possible? Yes. Is it less difficult than you imagine? Yes. Is it worth a try vs. settling down with the alternative of continuously hearing it and thus not achieving your full potential? Absolutely, yes.
When we grow up as kids, we used to look at ourselves in the mirror as chubby little babies and smile and embrace ourselves just as we are. As we grow older, and conditionings of many kinds take place, we lose that self-love and self-worth. For some of us it is worse than for others, depending on the environment you grew up in.
The road to realizing your self-worth is not an easy one, and it is not a one-time treatment, it is a continuous effort of checking in with yourself and being mindful of how you feel, what you do each day, who you surround yourself with, how do you treat yourself, how do you let others treat you, what do you feed your mind and body on regular basis.
5 steps to quiet down the little voice in your head:
- Know that you are worthy and deserving. It is your human right to be loved, be have peace, to find joy, to achieve success, and your goals.
- Don’t compare yourself to anyone. As one of my favorite boot camp instructors tells us in class “It is you against you”. Period. Self-worth is about how you feel inside; it is about your inherent worth as a person; not as your external factors.
- Be mindful of your own thoughts. Our thoughts create our realit Keep your thought positive and create the reality that you want. Avoid being stuck on negative thoughts. Ask yourself, where are these thoughts coming from, from what experience in your life made you feel this way to an extent that you have conditioned yourself to think this thought every time a situation arises. Speak to a therapist or a healer if needed.
- Eliminate people in your life who make you feel unworthy. You cannot be surrounded by people who bring you down and expect to know your worth. If you are around people who don’t love themselves, then you are likely to be the same. Surround yourself with positive energies and people that respect you, value you, and treat you with love.
- Find your purpose. Purpose is what drives us to wake up each morning and pushes us to thrive in our lives and work, so spend some time and discover your purpose. Leah Weiss covers beautifully in this article what it means to do work with a purpose and how to find your purpose.
Go on, know your worth. Live your best life!