Stop playing small to make others look big
Motivational Monday!
If you are confident about your strength, you don’t need to show me by putting someone else down, show me how strong you are that you can lift someone else up-President Barack Obama
I was once talking to a friend about why she left her “big” job. I thought she was doing well where she was and her departure surprised me. She told me plain and simple, she was tired of playing small so that others around her can look bigger. I was so proud of her because the moment she made that decision an even bigger and better opportunity came and she is thriving. We often “play” small to make others more comfortable, to be less threatening, and/or to be seen as a team player. While I can not speak to every situation in this blog, you know when you are playing small. You have that nagging sick feeling in your stomach that you brush aside in order to keep the peace.
I know that feeling and I have been guilty of playing small myself to survive. Unfortunately, in doing so subconsciously I accepted the limited thoughts that then soon plagued my brain. Yes, there will be times when you have to politically navigate situations for a greater outcome. However, consistently playing small will not serve you and you will eventually become the role you are playing. A person who requires you to be small will never champion you for greater things. They are insecure and not strong enough to handle your greatness. If this is you, your first step is to gain awareness of when you are playing small and the second step is to take intentional actions to stop playing small. If you need support to seek it, you will be better off and the future leaders need you to show up in your full power.
Photo by Kiana Bosman
If you gave your power away... go get it back! (Copy)
Take it Back Tuesday!!
Today, it is truly a take it back day. We sometimes get tired, discouraged, or disappointed and that can cause us to live by habit. What happens when we live by habit? We stop making concrete plans, we don’t hold ourselves accountable, and we engage in unhealthy habits. We are productive, get up, go to work, take care of kids, and/other responsibilities, but we don’t give ourselves dedicated time to think about our life.
I appreciate that it is hard being intentional. Why? Intentionality requires we make tough decisions and be in scary places. For some of us, someone and/or circumstances caused us to stop believing in ourselves. or expecting more for our life. Undoubtedly, there are people who do not wish the best for you, and life sometimes knocks you down. But, we remember 2 things-there are more people for you than against you! and life also has a mixture of good and bad times. It is so easy to get into a false mental trap, the mind naturally holds on to negative thoughts. Our minds ruminate over lack and what we are not. But, you must train our brain and take your power back.
So, if you handed your power to another that makes you make you feel like less, go and get it back. If you handed your power to the falsities of your mind, go get it back. Decide today, you will take 10 minutes to sit down every day over the next week and make intentional decisions about your life. Write it down! Find an accountability partner. Don’t be afraid, you have all the courage you need nesting inside.
You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe-Oprah Winfrey
Photo by Miguel Bruna
If you gave your power away... go get it back!
Take it Back Tuesday!!
Today, it is truly a take it back day. We sometimes get tired, discouraged, or disappointed and that can cause us to live by habit. What happens when we live by habit? We stop making concrete plans, we don’t hold ourselves accountable, and we engage in unhealthy habits. We are productive, get up, go to work, take care of kids, and/other responsibilities, but we don’t give ourselves dedicated time to think about our life.
I appreciate that it is hard being intentional. Why? Intentionality requires we make tough decisions and be in scary places. For some of us, someone and/or circumstances caused us to stop believing in ourselves. or expecting more for our life. Undoubtedly, there are people who do not wish the best for you, and life sometimes knocks you down. But, we remember 2 things-there are more people for you than against you! and life also has a mixture of good and bad times. It is so easy to get into a false mental trap, the mind naturally holds on to negative thoughts. Our minds ruminate over lack and what we are not. But, you must train our brain and take your power back.
So, if you handed your power to another that makes you make you feel like less, go and get it back. If you handed your power to the falsities of your mind, go get it back. Decide today, you will take 10 minutes to sit down every day over the next week and make intentional decisions about your life. Write it down! Find an accountability partner. Don’t be afraid, you have all the courage you need nesting inside.
You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe-Oprah Winfrey
Photo by Miguel Bruna