Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t’ hustle. – Ross Simmonds
Many people equate having hustle (or strong work ethic) to having a by-any-means-necessary approach to success. This can be the best or worst thing ever! If you’re willing to step on others, lie and deceive to accomplish your dreams, the hustle isn’t worth it. If you’re compromising your mental and physical health by not focusing on self-care and self-awareness, the “hustle” isn’t worth it. If you’re going to sleep with a cluttered mind, rarely find yourself in a place of happiness or have no time to reflect on the blessings of life, the hustle isn’t worth it. There has to be balance!
How do you define hustle?
Is it drive, hard work, passion, sacrifice, going the extra mile? Most people would say it’s one or more of these things.
My definition of hustle is giving my all to accomplish goals without losing/neglecting myself or neglecting the people I love.
This is no easy task. There are times when I prioritize working on a blog post over Happy Hour with friends but there are also times when I shut down my computer and leave my work to a later time. There was once a time when hustle meant giving my all to my career. I worked long hours, missed special occasions, and deprived myself of moments of stillness and rest all in the name of helping the company I worked for but it’s bottom line. I justified this behavior with the mentality of: “I’m young, single and I have to pay my dues if I want to climb the corporate latter and have success.”
Yes, this is somewhat true. You have to work hard and sometimes stretch beyond your comfort zone to be a corporate mover and shaker but the foundation of truly thriving in your personal and professional life is practicing self-care. You have to take care of yourself in order to be the best version of you possible for every facet of your life. Self-care is imperative to your very existence.
The moment I realized self-care is an integral part of hustle
I realized the importance of self-care when I was laid off by the very company that I was giving my all to. I was devastated and confused because I was doing everything that I could to progress as a career woman. Or at least I thought I was.
That hit to the gut caused me to really assess what I wanted out of life. It was a sudden reality check that my life would never be truly fulfilled until I nurtured my soul. I decided to sow where I want to grow. I started writing my goals and creating plans to bring them to fruition. I became more mindful through reading, prayer, meditation and journaling. I decided that I was the prize and no blow to my ego would allow me to think otherwise.
It’s been about three years since I took on this paradigm shift and I still consider myself to be hustler. I’m all about the power and confidence that having a strong work ethic can bring. I have dreams that I’m pursuing (personally and professionally) and I’m dedicated to making them happen through diligence.
Remix your hustle
I just remixed my hustle to be rooted in me. I’m not saying to be selfish and disregard others. I’m promoting the complete opposite. I’m urging you you to liberate yourself by bossing-up and hustling on your own terms. I’m encouraging you to care for yourself so you’re able to present your best self to others in every facet of your life.
If your hustle is overwhelming you, maybe it’s time for a remix. Don’t be afraid to produce a dope soundtrack for your life.
Ciao Bellas,
