self-worth & the courage to pursue authenticity over conformity

the importance of choosing paths that resonate deeply with one's identity and values, even when they diverge from conventional expectations or safety, can lead to a life and career that is not only more fulfilling but also deeply authentic.

I used to work in a corporate environment where my skills were highly over-utilized & way undervalued.

When I recognized this, I didn’t just up & quit.

I know that’s the climactic punch that often elevates a story, but that’s not what happened in mine.

Instead, I went to leadership & let them know my feelings. I provided proof of where I was over-leveraged, yet continually successful, & asked for a pay raise.

At the time, receiving a YES instead of a NO felt like a win. However, over time, realizing the increase was incommensurate with experience, expertise, & everyday contributions, I began to see how insulting & undermining it was.

It was insulting to carry hefty responsibility for accumulating business & earning 1/2 of what the role in the marketplace earns.

It was undermining to witness the workload I was carrying & sustaining, not to mention the number of times old work found its way back to me because the business landscape was unstable & therefore, retention was insufficient.

It was harsh to realize how little I had valued myself & as a result, how little I allowed others to convince me was acceptable to. 

When I began to notice all of this, it took the wind out of my sails.

I was saddened to see the imbalance of effort vs reward.

I was shocked that I had aligned myself with an environment -for years- where warm bodies over effective execution were tolerated.

I was defeated to find myself leading in a culture that promoted ‘take what you can get’ NOT take what you deserve & earn.

ROCK BOTTOM in a professional setting is fueled with desperation & despair when you discover your livelihood doesn’t supplement feeling more alive but drained. Deadened. Exasperated. This is when I decided to respect myself over those who refused to.

When I quit, I’d like to tell you I had it all figured out & the rest of my plan to become a Full-Time Life Coach was smooth sailing.

It wasn’t. In mere weeks, my Dad died, who I was changed & thus, my business not only went on hiatus but it changed too. My nervous system crashed. 2 family Matriarchs passed away. I lost momentum & alignment in my former zone of genius. I was depressed & confused. And, by the end of that 2-years, everything I had known about me, about life, about my purpose, changed.

What else happened?

I reconnected with old friends & made new ones. I clocked hours & certifications in Depth Psychology, Yoga, Meditation, & Breathwork. I became grief-informed. I reconciled with trauma & the mortality of life. I changed for the better, & became more authentic about what was important to ME in life, & as a result, My Business became about being Authentic, too.

It’s wild how much life can change when we decide what is & isn’t important. When we stop bullshitting ourselves & tolerating bullshit. When we take accountability for our life & where we’re taking what we can get vs what we deserve. The ‘responsible’ thing isn’t always the right thing. Sometimes the next right choice isn’t to do what feels safe or sensible, it’s to do what feels most like you.

Profound growth comes from the power of self-advocacy.

Personal satisfaction comes from reconciling with one’s mortality as reason enough to live an authentic life. 

You work so you can live, remember that. Thus, the importance of aligning one’s professional life with personal values can come from navigating life's challenges & embracing authenticity over conformity. Confronting & overcoming undervaluation in any setting, let alone a professional one requires grit, accountability & resilience. With faith & fortitude, self-discovery can ultimately result in a transformation that leads to living as a more authentic self in a more authentic life & career path.  

What is the ‘thing’ you’re unhappy about but are avoiding?

What choice do you want to make but feel you can’t?

Where do you feel stuck & unhappy?

How often do you feel you’re living an optimal life?

If you were to imagine living authentically, according to you, what would you be doing, who would you be doing it with, & how would you be doing it?

How do you already know choosing to do what feels most like you would improve your quality of life?

Be good to yourself for fucks sake.
Live an honest life.
Do the next right thing.💋

With Blessings,