Don’t Count Yourself Out

Stop counting yourself out of something before you at least make an attempt at it. Your mind can automatically prompt you to count yourself out due to limited beliefs or old mental models. It can block the empowered you from going after something you want by replaying the outdated narratives designed to keep you comfortable or worst of all continue to hinder you. In order to stop counting yourself out, you must rewire your mind by consciously catching yourself when you are about to do so then pushing through the resistance to at least make an attempt. You will also have to increase your ability to process whatever the outcome is in a healthy way. The reality is that not everything you go for will pan out the way you envisioned, but it does not have to scar your heart and make you swear off trying again. It is also not a measure of your inherent value and self-worth. Think of those moments as wisdom and self-empowerment gained for the next time you go after what you want. 

We cannot experience a full life without taking some swings and misses. Stepping up to the plate and risking a swing-and-miss is the only way to hit anything meaningful. Avoiding the strikeout guarantees you will never hit a home run and the learning that comes from those misses is what builds resilience. By counting yourself out before you take a swing, you take away your chance to win. Going after something and giving it a sincere shot is truly one of the best ways of knowing if something is meant for you. You will not know if the dream opportunity is meant for you if you count yourself out before you apply for it due to not having a degree. You will not know if you will find joy in a new hobby if you count yourself out due to not wanting to be seen trying something new. You will not know if a friendship with someone you admire will blossom if you count yourself out due to thinking you are too quirky or unique. Life experiences or self-doubts can make us think we are disqualified from something. Therefore, we try to beat rejection to the punch by rejecting ourselves first. Stop rejecting yourself and instead be bold about consistently taking a swing, learning, and empowering yourself. The more you swing, the more chances you give yourself to win. 

Joy Gem: “Self-sabotage is when we say we want something and then go about making sure it doesn’t happen.” - Alyce C.