Simone Biles chose her mental health and well-being over the Olympic finals. She chose peace over gold medals. She chose herself over others. That is the attitude that every human being needs to take. Some of you may be thinking, Isn’t that a little selfish? The short answer is no. The more complex and detailed response is forthcoming, but to be direct – it is not selfish. It’s called self-preservation.
(ESPN)
Too many times, I have seen people remain in places for far too long. They remain stagnant and feel a sense of obligation. Why? Because they will be upset, or they will end up in a bind, or they will suffer some other form of disappointment over their personal choice to bow out gracefully. Well, guess what? They will be alright.
Who are they? The ones who want you to forego your own wants and needs so you can fulfill theirs.
Many of us have been erroneously taught to endure mistreatment and outright abuse at the hands of employers because being a “good” employee represents loyalty and dependability. Especially when we have the kind of job that comes with a great deal of responsibility. The position may seem glamorous to those on the outside looking in. But only the people who are walking a mile in those shoes truly know how much they can take.
The flack that Biles has received over her decision to withdraw from the Olympic finals is appalling. She has been called a “quitter” and a “disgrace to her country.” Like many of you, the criticism made me angry. I’m glad that she received such an outpouring of love and support from people (myself included) who understood her decision and respect her for it. I sincerely hope that her decision inspired millions of people to follow her lead and protect their peace over people pleasing.
It is certainly a lesson that I learned well over 20 years ago. I used to be the loyal one. The person who went above and beyond my call of duty. Once I understood that most of my former employers didn’t care about me as a person, my perspective on loyalty started to change. I realized that no matter how dedicated I was to “the cause,” I could be “let go” at any time. This. Changed. The. Game.
I could no longer stay in a situation that no longer served me and my well-being. I became extremely perceptive. The moment I felt a shift in how I was received in that space or how my body reacted to it, I knew it was time to leave. This sparked a revolution in me.
I became known for starting jobs and leaving after a relatively short period of time. Sometimes it was three years and sometimes it was three months. The more time passed, the better I became at valuing myself over others. I told myself – they will be alright.
No one should feel like they’re forced to remain in a toxic environment. It starts to affect everything from the inside out. It affects your mood, your health, and your relationships. Your personal life will begin to suffer because you are bent on being the savior in your professional life. I implore you. Choose you. Because they will be alright.
And even if the environment isn’t toxic and you just need to take care of yourself in the moment, do yourself a favor and be unapologetically bold about your bounce. Because They will be alright.
You may be like Biles and could possibly upset millions with your choice. Or you could be a CEO, a principal, administrator, or the best shift manager that Wendy’s has ever seen. Do what you must do to choose YOU.
They will be alright.
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