The Dangers of Settling

I knew I needed and wanted to give more at work, but I simply couldn't find it within me to do it. Stress was eating away at my health. I was getting sick more often and every time it was more virulent. At the same time, I was (and still am) in the best relationship I've ever had. You could say that my life was comfortable while at the same time being uncomfortable. But there is one place I knew I was settling: work and stress was my excuse for not taking control of my health. 

When I look back, I realize I was stuck in a rut and not growing. I was in my routine and I was “comfortable”. I knew what to expect every day, and I didn’t have to worry about the unknown, except for the surprises that came across my desk which were often the same as before. But when our routine holds us back from reaching our full potential, it's a problem. I had this dream of coaching full-time, but for a very long time, I couldn't look past the comforts and benefits that being in corporate afforded me. Even though I had lost the passion that I had for the business, fear kept me where I was. Until it didn't... 

As women, we're often told that we can have it all—a successful career, a loving family, and a fulfilling personal life. But what happens when we realize that we're settling for less than we deserve? Too often, we stay, as I did, in jobs that don't make us happy or fulfill our potential because we're afraid to make a change. But what if we took the leap and went after what we really wanted? Let's talk about why you shouldn't settle for anything less than the best and look at the signs that you might be settling for less than you deserve. 

The Cost of Settling

When you settle for a job that you're not passionate about, for example, it's easy to become burned out and resentful. And that is exactly where I was. I was putting in the hours but felt like my soul was empty. And the time I was putting in at work was so much that I had nothing left in the tank to pursue my passion for coaching. 

We spend the majority of our waking hours at work—so we should do something that we enjoy doing! Additionally, research has shown that people who are unhappy in their jobs are more likely to experience health problems. So, not only is settling bad for your career, it's bad for your health! I know it was bad for mine. Had I stayed, I would have had some type of a health episode. So I decided to make the change.

Here's What Happens When You Settle

1. You don't learn anything new

If you feel like you're stuck in a rut, it might be because you're not challenging yourself anymore. Learning keeps your mind active and engaged, so if you're not constantly growing, you might start to feel bored or unfulfilled. Make it a point to learn something new every day. 

The best way to do that is to schedule learning time in your agenda. Though it might feel like mission impossible some days, keeping our minds agile keeps us open to possibilities. We discover new things that pique our interest. When I started diving into the world of Personal Development, I never imagined it would lead me here. but what a missed opportunity if I hadn't!

2. You don't take risks

Playing it safe might seem like the best way to avoid problems, but it can also lead to regret. And while avoiding our problems is great for temporary relief, in the long run, it is recipe for disaster. Whatever ails us still needs to be addressed and when we finally decide to address it, the task is that much more difficult. Imagine you get diagnosed with cancer, but you ignore it. What will happen? The cancer will continue to grow and get worse. Ignoring or avoiding dealing is simply not good. The same goes with our problems. 

If you feel unfulfilled, but are too afraid to take risks, you miss out on opportunities for growth and adventure. You miss out on potentially achieving some great rewards. And while there will always be some risks that aren't worth taking, don't let fear hold you back from seizing the ones that could change your life for the better. How do you do that? Explore. Learn. Experience new things. You never know what you might uncover!

3. You don't chase your dreams

This one is probably the most obvious, but it's also the most important. If you're not working towards your goals, then what are you working towards? Have you convinced yourself that the stability of a paycheck is more important than your happiness? A job is just a job, but pursuing your dreams is a way to make your life meaningful and rewarding. 

So don't settle for a career that doesn't fulfill you –– find something that excites you and makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning because you can't leave a meaningful legacy without chasing your dreams! And if you don’t know what your dream is, if you haven’t figured out what your purpose is, then I encourage you to join my Masterclass “3 Keys to go from Frustrated to Fulfilled” on October 7th. You can join by clicking on this link.

4. You don't push yourself outside of your comfort zone

It's easy to get complacent when things are going well, but complacency breeds mediocrity. If you want to achieve great things, you have to be willing to put yourself out there and try new things –– even if they scare you at first. Comfort zones are meant to be challenged, so push yourself outside of yours on a regular basis and see how much further you can go! 

If you’re not used to doing that, it can seem daunting at first. Try small things, like taking a different route to work, going on a new hike, or trying new foods. There are many low risk ways you can start putting yourself out of your comfort zone.

5. You don't encourage others to follow their dreams

Who are you a role model for? You may not think you are to anyone, but I can tell you people are watching you. They look to see how you present yourself and engage with others and they take their cues from you. That is especially so with children. Although I don't have children of my own, I have stepdaughters and nieces. And boy, do they watch what you do. How many videos have you seen on Tik Tok showing children imitating their parents' mannerisms and behaviors? 

So ask yourself, "what are my actions teaching them?" Isn't that motivation enough for you to chase your dreams, or do you want your children, nieces, and nephews to settle too?

Final Thoughts

So, what if we took a leap of faith and went after what we really wanted? Sure, there would be some risks involved—but isn't the risk of being unhappy in your current situation even greater? 

Think about it this way: if you don't go after what you want, you'll never know what could have been. So why not take the chance and see where it takes you? You might just end up exactly where you want to be.