it’s been a year since i quit my job as a lawyer. these last 12 months have taught me about courage, resilience and what it means to live by an abundance mindset. most importantly, i’ve learned that i deserve peace.
i’ve had a toxic relationship with work since i can remember. i was a workaholic who constantly sought validation from my supervisors and peers. as you can imagine, this led to a bunch of issues. i felt that i wasn’t good enough and secretly had something to prove.
but i am enough.
i knew it was time to quit my job when i was writing a grant report while receiving chemotheraphy. in fact, i was typing feverishly to try to get ahead of the drugs’ affects. my boss and colleagues knew that i was receiving treatment, yet their expectations didn’t change. instead of creating boundaries, my insecurities told me that i needed to do more.
after two years of serious health issues, including breast cancer, i decided it was time to change my relationship to work. i’m an attorney with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt so this decision was scary AF. but it had to be done for my mental and physical wellbeing.
READ: Join My Fight to Slay Cancer
i did something bold. i thought about all the things that bring me joy and could earn money. my blog is really the only “job” that i’ve loved passionately since its creation in 2011. in all honestly, i wanted to pursue life as a full-time content creator. however, my bank account said, “nah sis.”
if i had to work, it would be on my own terms. with a bald head from chemo and armed with 11 resumes, i walked boldly into my local luxury mall. i was nervous to pass out my resume, but refused to go home until i’d depleted my stash. i was shocked when i actually landed a position at one of the most exclusive brands in the world.
i proudly quit my job as a lawyer, and couldn’t have predicted what would happen next. in the last 12 months, i’ve been featured in essence magazine and nbc 4, spoke at a major conference, hosted a half dozen workshops and started a private facebook group for women seeking greater joy in their daily lives. plus, i’ve created an etsy shop and started a 21-day happiness project masterclass. sis, whet. can you believe it?!
“My favorite part of the conference was hands down the Wellness Activity overseen by Tashira of Politics & Fashion. Her session injected so much soul and positivity into the conference. This woman is a true speaker and also a star.” -Vivi of Heart Print Style
READ: How My Happiness Project Changed My Life
since i was four years old, i believed that i had to be a lawyer to be successful. it wasn’t until i quit that i truly understood the definition of success. it’s joy. it’s peace. it’s wellbeing. it’s family. it’s love.
if you’re thinking about quitting your job to pursue a new career, then these three lessons may help your decision.
You Deserve Peace
we live in a society that tells us that stress is normal. not only is it normalized, but the ability to navigate high amounts of stress is a twisted badge of honor. however, stress has major affects on our mental and physical wellbeing. in fact, it takes a huge toll on our bodies. ever heard of cortisol?
let’s get real: you deserve peace. we spend two quarters of our lives working, and the idea that our jobs should be counteractive to our wellbeing is bullshit. any job, person, place or thing that doesn’t serve you is not for you. should i say it louder for the people in the back?
Money Will Flow
i spent no less that 1,657 hours brooding over money before i decided to quit my job. my fiancé and i had to get crystal clear on our budget and determine how much i’d need to earn in order to help maintain our lifestyle. the ironic part is that it was much less than i imagined.
being a high earner can be a blessing and a curse because it will camouflage a lack financial planning. we earned a lot, so we spent a lot without much consideration for long-term savings. however, we figured out that we could spend less, save more and still enjoy our lives. this was mind boggling.
looking back, what i had to shift, was my money mindset. i had to start believing that i deserved abundance and could receive it. this new belief led me to create several side hustles, and the lack of stress in my full-time job helped me to give them my time and attention.
can you believe that i earned an extra $20,000 in six months from my side hustles? quitting my job as a lawyer actually put me in a position to earn more money. money will flow sis.
You Work Harder for Yourself
i’ve earned more since quitting my job because of a very simple principle. you work harder for yourself. some of my strengths are public speaking, project planning and writing. when i gave myself permission to use these skills in pursuit of my own dreams, my side hustles took off.
your creativity, leadership skills and tenacity aren’t just skills for hire. they can also help you do amazing things in your own life. once you start a full-time business or side hustle they don’t just disappear. in my experience, my skillset has actually increased because i care tremendously about the work that i’m doing.
i hope these three lessons inspire you to follow your passions. if quitting your job feels like too big of a leap, no worries. start by creating a side hustle that you love or asking your boss if you can work part-time. each step in the direction of your dreams is an act of courage.
thank you so much for joining my journey and supporting politics & fashion over the years. be sure to join the joy lounge for weekly self-care tips and inspiration!
