DON'T SETTLE
As technology continues to progress and replace the manual aspects of life, our levels of patience have been dwindling. Unfortunately, our lack of endurance and fortitude as a society often causes us to make the mistake of choosing the first option presented to us. We take the easy way out and settle for mediocrity in multiple ways. We accept jobs we hate, we deal with friends who constantly let us down, and we stay in relationships with people that take advantage of us. And I get it… when you’re tired of dating or being alone, it’s easy to pick up the first person that says the right thing. But the reality is it takes time, effort and patience to find the right person. It takes time, effort and patience to discover your true gifts and get paid for doing something you love.
Things worth having take time and effort, and many people don’t want to exert either.
My family always jokes and says that I am allergic to mediocrity. The truth is, my biggest pet peeve is seeing wasted potential, and I have to admit, the thought of mediocrity bothers me; I’d rather spend my life pursuing greatness than settling for less than I’m capable of.
“As soon as you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.” Maureen Dowd.
You were born for so much more. You have what it takes, but it will take everything you have. It will take risks and sacrifice and delayed gratification. There is a reasonable chance that you might not find the right person, or the job that’s meant for you, but the payoff of finding it is SO MUCH BIGGER. For every story you hear of someone who is miserable after settling for that “good enough” job or “good enough” person, there’s another story of someone who held true to their beliefs, faith and aspirations (despite what others told them they should do), took the risk and ultimately found that happiness that they deserved. To my fellow single friends—there’s nothing wrong with being single. Settling down means nothing if you're settling for less. Don’t settle for less because you're too impatient to wait for the best. Don't let things like age, opinions, loneliness, or insecurities allow you to settle for less. A very wise person once told me, “until you get comfortable being alone, you'll never know if you're choosing someone out of love or loneliness.” Only accept the relationship that your heart knows is right for you. Don't be so desperate to be in a relationship that you ignore your worth just to be in one.
Do you believe the possibility of finding true love, true happiness, and true success is worth the risk of not finding it? If so, I suggest you follow these steps…
Step 1) Know what you want. Whether it’s in relationships, health, profession, education, family, marriage…Be clear on your goals, and what you’re looking to create and achieve. Knowing what you want is the first step to not settling for less than you deserve.
Step 2) Believe that you are capable and worth it. If you don’t think you can have, do or be more, you will easily settle for less. If you don’t believe in your greatness, why should others?
Step 3) Have your actions reflect that you are worthy of what you deserve. You can’t just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. If you believe you deserve a raise, but you’re coming in late every day, you’re not working hard and you aren’t delivering on what’s expected of you, then you don’t deserve the raise. Your actions must reflect your intentions, or your intentions are worthless.
Step 4) Don’t settle for anything less. Once you are clear about what it is you want and you truly believe and act like you deserve it, have the courage to hold fast until you get it! The enemy of great is often “good enough.” Don’t let the enemy stop you from reaching your fullest potential.
In a world of so much tragedy, there is no better time than now that we need your greatness. The world needs your performance to match your potential. So please, DON’T SETTLE! In relationships, in your career, in life…you’ll be doing this world a disservice if you do. You were designed for so much more; you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Blessings and love,
Marti Reed