I remember having an intense conversation with a guy I was dating. There I was at work, in my cubicle, arguing with this young man about lies he had told and when. I’m sure my coworkers got their fill of tea that morning and at some point I heard myself say to him, “I deserve better than this.” This wasn’t the first or second time I had said this to him over a period of months. It was, however, the first time I’d HEARD myself.

The words bounced around my mind and between my ears rapidly like a ping pong ball. They reverberated in my mind. This was fuckin’ it! Whatever he’d said following that statement was like the sound of Charlie Brown’s mama: “Wahwahwah wah-wah, wah wah.” His voice had been drowned out by the words in my mind turned to maximum volume. I deserve better than this. The words solidified my resolve.

I hung up on him.

BUZZ.

He called back to back to back.

My phone vibrated on the hard surface of my desk.

BUZZ.

I picked up my desk phone and called Sprint.

BUZZ.

“Hello, I’d like to request a phone number change.”

BUZZ.

Sprint customer service: “Sure, I can take care of that for you. Please hold while I make the change.”

BUZZ-BUZZ.

BUZZ.

Silence.

Sprint customer service: “Alright, I’ve taken care of that for you. Simply turn off your phone and turn it back on and you should be all set.”

I never spoke to or saw him again. Everything that he had of mine, I decided I didn’t need it back. They were just things.

You deserve better

Anything that does not serve your well-being or anyone who is constantly hurting you does not deserve a place in your life. The only one that has to believe that you deserve better IS YOU. Whether it’s the people in your life, a work place where you don’t feel seen or heard, you can change your circumstances. It only starts with acknowledgement and a decision to let go. Your happiness is on you and it should be priority.

You deserve to be surrounded by people who see your worth, appreciate you, who uplift and support you. You’re deserving of opportunities where your talents can truly shine. You deserve to wake up every morning with a sense of purpose and to feel loved. You are deserving of a life filled with love, happiness, and fulfillment. Start believing that with all your heart.

Belief is where it starts

You don’t have to believe it fully at first. If you have the faith of a mustard seed nothing can be impossible for you. Start small and speak over yourself with affirmations. They have the power to change your mindset. Overtime you’ll see that belief begin to grow and it will start to effect area in your life you didn’t think would ever change.

When you begin recognizing your value and refuse to settle for less than you deserve, it changes your perspective and gives you courage to take action.

The moment you start to wonder if you deserve better, you do. Once you make the decision to let go, you’ll find that it turns out to be the best decision you’ve ever made for yourself.

I’ve written a post sharing 5 Deserving Affirmations to get you started. Check them out when you get a chance. Repeat them daily and mean them wholeheartedly.