January may be wrapping up soon, but if you’re still getting clear on your goals and resolutions for this year, you’re not alone.
White Supremacy Culture mandates that there be a plan and strategy for everything, and that tenet spills over into our personal lives where goal setting becomes more of a strategic planning session than an opportunity for personal exploration and growth. But what if there was another way?
For too long, women of color have been taught that the only way for them to be successful or have value in life is to set lofty, measurable goals, surpass them, and continue to do that for as long as we breathe. But part of uprooting anti-Blackness and White Supremacy Culture in the workplace begins with reframing how we determine our own worth, and redefining what success means to us personally.
Begin that journey by getting clear on your values and what matters most to you
One of the first exercises I do with clients and participants in the Authentically Me Fellowship is identifying their core values. For me, those have included values like justice, equity, freedom, and creativity. Figuring out what’s most important to you is a way not to limit yourself, but to get clear on the things you most want to seek after. Think of your values like an inner compass; they are your soul’s way of aligning with the tangible work and labor you do in the world. Getting clear on them can better guide you to the people and places that will make you feel most fulfilled.
Finding the balance between fulfillment and financial security
While job satisfaction is important, bills don’t pay themselves on vibes alone. And for Black and Brown women who don’t come from wealth, having high-paying jobs is a key in building financial security. But if you’ve spent any amount of time in a professional role, you’d know that a high salary often comes at the high price of your mental health.
The balance to be found here is not in compromising on your values, but in seeking out the places and communities that align with them and support your deepest wellbeing.
I would take this a step further to argue, too, that financial security and values-driven, fulfilling work do not have to be in conflict or at odds with one another. It’s White Supremacy Culture that teaches us that the only way to be successful is to run ourselves into the ground and sacrifice our wellbeing for riches. But what if the things that were most important to you and light you up the most were exactly what you could do to earn a living?
Workspaces that allow women of color to show up authentically
While many corporations are abandoning their DEI commitments, it’s at least clearing the way to see who’s really about the business of creating work spaces that women of color can thrive in. Whether you’re evaluating a new job opportunity or using the start of this new year to reflect on whether or not your current opportunity is serving you well, think on those questions through the lens of what will best align with your values.
If faith is one of your core values, are there opportunities you can take on in faith-based spaces, or professional development opportunities that inhibit your spiritual growth? Or if integrity is a main value of yours, are you working in a space where your authentic beliefs align with your company’s mission?
Exploring these questions isn’t something you have to do alone, either– schedule a consultation with ShiftED today to get the support you need.
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