Say it with me in your sassiest voice: settling is so yesterday.
… and you need to stop settling for mediocre friendships, relationships, food, work, or anything else in your life.
Jobs:
The one thing I have never settled for is jobs. I am not greedy when it comes to money, I just want to be happy at my job and be able to pay my bills. No matter what the pay is, if a job doesn’t make me happy, I will quit. I absolutely love working, but when I’m miserable at my job, my love for working disappears. I’ve quit jobs that paid me over $12 an hour because they stressed me out beyond measure just to go work somewhere that pays $9 an hour. I have quite a lengthy, unofficial resume that I’m not very proud of, but I do have an incredible range of experience and set of skills that has prepared me for every job that I have ever applied to. I’ve job hopped so many times that I’ve had friends make jokes about it, but I’ve never seen a point in settling when there is better out there. Searching for better is what landed me my current job. It feels like a dream in terms of benefits, pay, my hours, and the work environment, so I guess you can say it paid off.
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Refusing to work a stressful job that is causing you grief doesn’t mean you should immediately quit your $75k a year job, with no money in your savings account, and no idea how you’re going to pay your bills next month. But girl, you better start looking at new jobs you think you’ll love and go get that happy money.
Relationships:
Many of us are guilty of staying with someone because we’ve been with them for a while and we care about them even though we know we can find better when they aren’t willing to change their toxic ways. There is literally someone out there ready to match your level and treat you the way you deserve to be treated, yet you waste your time on a lost cause.
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Let’s please note that there is a difference in growing with someone and simply allowing them to show you that they truly don’t care about you. Here you are, settling for your significant other while your heart takes the punishment for it. You’re better off being alone than with someone hindering your growth, so let me tell you that you need to let that…
Friendships:
I know at some point we’ve all had great friendships that over time started to fade and eventually hung on by a thread. Yes, I’ve been there and I know you probably have, too. There may be something driving you apart from your circle of friends, but you’re just hanging on because you had great memories together. It might be your fault, their fault, a combination of both, or nobody’s fault at all. Maybe your interests changed or life is just taking you guys in different directions. Either way, just let it go. I’d rather not have friends than to force a friendship. Better yet, I can make new friends and so can you. Regardless, don’t settle for a friendship that isn’t doing you any good anymore. Let them birds fly baby girl.
Food:
Ah, my all-time favorite — food! I will never, ever settle for food. Life is far too short to settle for some mediocre hot wings or pizza. All this amazing food in the world and you’re settling for that great value chocolate when you deserve Dove chocolate. You should be ashamed of yourself. If you die tomorrow, your last meal shouldn’t have been a hot dog on a slice of bread when you know you love that sloppy chili dog with jalapenos and light cheese. I’m not saying eat your way into obesity, but enjoy the food you like because you deserve to do just that.
Education:
Please don’t tell me your parents decided what your major was going to be in college. Now you’re wondering how you’re going to spend the rest of your life working a 9-5 desk job when you wanted to be a wedding planner. That’s a commitment to settling unless you learn to love what you’re doing. Are you really living for yourself when you allow other people to make decisions like that for you? I hate to break it to you, but you’re not.
Regardless of what it is in life that you’re settling for, do yourself a favor and stop. Reach out for more than what you normally would, give yourself what you deserve, and love every second of your life because you’re living without any regrets. Friendships, relationships, school, food, jobs, and everything else in between should be extraordinary, so stop allowing it all to be average.