My work is not my worth
“In a society that judges self-worth on productivity, it’s no wonder we fall prey to the misconception that the more we do, the more we’re worth.”
- Ellen Stern
Let us all take a collective breath because chile…
These few weeks, months, and year have been a lot of everything. Stress, loss, resurfacing trauma, and relearning self. It took me a while to learn how to own my rest and not associate having a rest day or a few moments of silence with being lazy or unmotivated.
My work is not my worth, nor does it validate my existence. I had a hard time coming to terms with this. I always thought the more I produced and showed up, the more I was worth, and on my off days, or when I wasn't feeling it, I felt like I wasn't worth rest or celebration. It took me a while to figure out that I needed to separate my self-worth and value as a person from my hustle.
What was also vital was understanding I don't have to earn my rest. My rest is mine to claim whether I produced 30 seconds, 30 minutes, 30 hours, or nothing at all.
YOUR REST IS YOURS TO CLAIM
I am finally learning how to separate my worth from my work.
I want to share four ways I dissociate and separate my self-worth from my productivity.
1. Acknowledge rest as a part of the work
Try to change your perspective around rest, and reframe rest as part of the work because you won't be able to do your best work without resting. Remind yourself that you deserve relaxation and moments of rest, regardless of how much work you've done.
2. Show up for the things that are important to you
Like the quote from Elizabeth Gilbert says, our sense of self-worth comes from showing up for the things that are important to us. So cultivate your hobbies and what's important to you outside of work and show up.
3. Celebrate your non-work-related successes
Remind yourself of who you are outside of work. Celebrate your life and humanness. Try writing a list of all the things you 'are' and that you 'do' that aren't related to your work; I think you'll be surprised at how much there is.
4. Hone in on the process
Find value in the process, show up, and dedicate yourself to yourself and what matters to you.
To disconnect my self-worth from my work, I celebrate my humanness, cultivate hobbies that ground me, and realize that what I do is not who I am but rather something I choose to pour into; remember, the only moment you can live in is the now. We cannot limit our work to our careers. We are more extensive than that.
POWER AFFIRMATIONS:
There is power in owning my rest
There is power in enjoying the now
There is power in understanding to difference between my worth and my productivity
XO,
S.E. ANTHONY