Article by JESSICA WEAVER
It’s easy to say no to opportunities when you know your purpose and worth in life.
Recently, I tested this concept and said no to money. Who does that? It was scary, and I felt like I was leaving the safety blanket of my security, yet I knew I had to do it to fly.
Never would I have said no to money before now because I felt like I wasn’t good enough at my job. I felt I always had to hit the pavement running, and always put more time into work. Then, I realized this attitude wasn’t mine. It was coming from insecurities and fears other people projected onto me. I was told things like: “You have to be at your desk for emergencies,” and “You have to return every email and call immediately,” and “You always have to be available.” Well, I did all those things, and more. When I found myself working to monitor emails and calls, and be always available, I was also rarely available for my family, myself, or for God.
While like to work hard, I know that working ‘round the clock isn’t working hard—it’s insanity! I discovered how to work hard by doing it in small increments throughout the day. When you work hard, doing so for 12 hours a day or four hours a day doesn’t change anything about your work ethic. What does change is how you spend time in your work. Knowing that working fewer hours a day will lead to a healthier and happier life beyond your office. In working ‘smarter’ rather than ‘harder,’ you might want to work for more years of your life because you won’t suffer from burnout.
When you work for more years of your life, you must know yourself well. You have the power to be in a job of your choice. While you may have to go through a lot of steps to get there, remember to stay in your power, learn how to collaborate with others, and make sacrifices in the name of your goal.
Getting over the fear of saying no to money that was taking me away from my own right to live the way I wanted was powerful and invigorating. I got over the fear by understanding my worth, and flexing my worthy muscle! I did exercises to build my concept of self, and then learned how to accept my worth. Accepting your true worth is scary. You know you will have to make changes that can feel threatening to both your livelihood and your way of life. Most women don’t see their worth for themselves because they’ve been complacent for so long. They don’t realize how much they’ve settled because it’s been accepted for so long in our society. Try this exercise: Write down your salary. Double it. Double it again. Reflect on the number staring back at you until you accept it for your worth. Repeat this exercise once the number becomes comfortable to you so you are always putting a higher value on yourself.
It took an amazing coach to break me of the working hard habit, and to understand what was possible. I left behind what I knew was possible after breaking my old patterns and habits. Without knowing my purpose and worth, I never would have stood in my power, or had the ability to say no to something that would have kept me down, but secure.
Once I said “no,” a surprise happened. I received 10 new clients to teach. At first, it was only I who saw that they were so powerful, yet they were shy about feeling their power and worth because they’d been living in denial of it for so long.
I’m so grateful for these clients—all women—to be guiding part of their paths forward. They have so much to give the world, and embracing their purpose and worth is the first step into their greatness.
After you read this, I invite you to stand in your power. Make a decision to live by your own rights, and trust yourself. You will make it, you will thrive, and you are so worth it.
