I’ve been in a weird middle ground after getting a new job and leaving the industry I was once in. I was a server for seven years, and just under two months ago, I started working in the field of administration as an assistant. For years, I prayed for a great job and, even more, for a doorway into a new career. Now that I’ve finally received what I dreamed of and prayed for, I feel strange and a little confused. Is it just the change itself? The new pace, new role, or maybe even a shift in my personality?

I’ve been thinking about what’s really been bothering me for the past few days, and it finally hit me. I’ve been running this blog for a little over three years, and when I first started it, I fell in love with the quote, “Become comfortable in the uncomfortable.”

In life, we’re constantly faced with changes, challenges, and setbacks that we have to overcome. My serving career didn’t end long ago, yet it’s almost like I forgot all the long nights and hard work I was trying to move past. I didn’t want to stop serving just because it was difficult, but I needed something easier on my mind. Being a server often led to burnout and emotional overload because I was taking on so many people’s energy every day.

When you think about it, it makes total sense. I was serving hundreds, sometimes thousands, of individuals each week. On paper, it might look like I was just taking orders. I was also bringing food to tables. But that wasn’t the full story. I was constantly engaging with different personalities, trying to solve problems as they came. Whether it was an upset guest, a mistake from the kitchen, or long wait times, my mind was always in motion. I had to keep an upbeat attitude no matter how I really felt. Showing up was part of the job.

All of this to say, sometimes we finally reach the place we’ve been dreaming of. Yet, we find ourselves missing the life we once prayed to leave behind.

I was honestly missing my old job and in a way, the old me. I did have an ‘aha‘ moment. I remembered not wanting to be in the position I was before because I didn’t feel ‘qualified’. I’ve noticed this is definitely a pattern I need to break for once and for all. I remembered telling myself during my training to become a fine dining server. I told myself I just need to “become comfortable in the uncomfortable.” I felt as though I wasn’t built for the task. I believed I wouldn’t be able to excel. I thought everyone essentially ‘knows more than I do’. After working at the establishment for about 6 months, I was recognized as one of the top 3 servers. The restaurant was so proud of my achievements. I feel as though I was and am dealing with imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is defined as the inability to believe that your successes and achievements are deserved as a result for your own efforts or talent. I felt as though they might be just trying to make me feel better. However, I eventually started to believe them.

Now that I”m in a new environment and learning a lot of new things, it’s like the feeling came back and maybe even stronger this time. With that being said, it is my goal to start believing in myself again and limit my self-limiting beliefs. When you have a self-limiting belief, you’re essentially having a negative thought or perception that leads to prevention of you reaching your full potential and making your goals and dreams come to life. I read a book once and it said “If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?” and honestly its a question I continue to ask myself when I experience a self-limiting belief.

If you don’t brag about yourself.. Who will? My goal for the next 6 months is to challenge all my negative thoughts and perceptions when it comes to any goal or my career most importantly. I have everything within me I need to succeed and I deserve to be a winner. And guess what? So do YOU.

You might be wondering …what’s your plan? That’s a great question.

I will start by challenging my self-limiting beliefs. Not everything we think is a fact, and honestly most of our negative beliefs are just that opinions and we can challenge them. Whenever I have a negative thought or perception, I will not only challenge it, but also try to see where the thought originated from and what made me think this way. The true growth zone in life is learning not to run from discomfort but coming to peace with it. My brother once told me, if you’re nervous about something that’s how I know you care. I think about what he said a lot because it’s really true, I get nervous or uncomfortable when I approach something new especially when I’m passionate about it. My first thought at change is initially to run away but I need to come to peace with change because that’s what life is all about.

Second, I will reframe my mindset, it’s usually all about our perspective and how we see the direction of our lives going. I want to reframe my mindset from seeing discomfort to seeing growth. Every uncomfortable moment I have, whether it’s at my job or within my day-to-day life, is helping me grow stronger mentally. The way to truly take your power back is to say “this is training me” instead of “this is too much”; it’s not happening to us, but for us.

Lastly, I want to find peace in progress. After all, it’s progress over perfection! Every day doesn’t have to feel easy to be meaningful. I remind myself that I’m still new, still learning, and it’s okay not to have everything mastered yet. I want to celebrate the small wins, the emails I write with confidence, the conversations I navigate better than last time, the moments I stay calm instead of spiraling. Little by little, I’m building comfort from the inside out. I started writing down my accomplishments at the beginning of this year. I will absolutely be marking my wins along the way. I strongly encourage you to do the same, make sure you are celebrating your skills, your talents, and your wins. Even if you face imposter syndrome, as I have faced it too. Remember, you are deserving. The skill is all you!

I’m proud of you for showing up for yourself. Keep pushing. Don’t forget, you gotta become comfortable in the uncomfortable.

You are a winner and you deserve to be a winner!