Find Your Inner Fight in 5 Steps

We live in a passive aggressive society armed with experienced gas-lighters. That can be enough to make you doubt your self-worth. How do you assert yourself when you don’t know how? How do you stand up for your interests when you inner monologue holds you back? Well, it takes practice but let’s look at 5 steps to get you started.

1. Remember that you add value. We all bring different talents to the table but there’s only one you. There is something that you offer your workplace, friend group, and family that only you have. Think about your strengths, talents and inner youness, and write them down. Allow your value to inspire you. Use post-its so you don’t forget! “I’m eloquent,” “I’m passionate about the environment”, “I’m empathetic,” etc.
2. Identify the people or circumstances in your life that undermine your value. You must first notice where your challenges are coming from before you can take inspired action to fight for what you want. Write it down. Do not give individuals the power to undervalue you. You decide your worth.
3. Identify what you want. Own it, don’t be shy about, and don’t let your inner monologue tell you why you can’t have it. What do you want? A better paying job? To be respected at work? A promotion? A better work life balance? To quit your job and travel instead? (I mean, that’s what we all want, right?) To fight for what you want, you must internalize it — know what it is and believe you deserve it. If you don’t believe it, why would anyone else invest in you?
4. Develop your plan. Write down the ways you will pursue what you want. Maybe you’re going to dust off your resume and elicit feedback from peers to make it rock solid. Maybe you are going to set up a meeting with your boss to candidly discuss why you deserve that raise you’ve been wanting. Your plan should involve multiple approaches — BE TENACIOUS. For example, after you polish your resume, you’ll apply for 3 jobs a week and send out linked-in connection messages to experts in your field. Next, you’ll obtain a certification that will make you more marketable. Once you know what you want and how you add value, let that inspire you to keep going — DO NOT QUIT!
5. Implement plan. Not much to say about this except … do not weenie out here. Find your fight and do it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

We all have a fire inside of us calling us to pursue something, to be more. Let it drive you rather than scare you. Let it encourage action rather than produce fear. You have but one life, so live it.