Don't Settle

As we journey through life, we're often tempted to accept whatever comes our way, especially when faced with setbacks. Think back to the times when you made detailed plans, only to watch them fall apart. In those moments, you're left with two choices: try again or settle for what's available. When faced with uncertainty and seemingly unrealistic options, I say this: DON'T SETTLE.

The story of Hannah in the bible highlights an unwavering resolve by Hannah not to settle for anything less than her having her own children. Hannah's womb had been shut by God. She couldn't bear children.

Hannah was the beloved wife of Elkanah. She was dearly loved and cherished. Most definitely held in high esteem by her husband, despite not having her own child. Peninnah who had sons and daughters was not preferred to Hannah. In fact, her husband boldly told her "Am I not worth to you more than 10 sons". I mean, this was such a consolation.

This was a profound gesture of love and comfort, but Hannah refused to settle. She could have accepted her husband's consolation and lived a comfortable, childless life, but she didn't. She continued to push for her dream, praying and believing that one day, she would hold her own children. And after years of waiting, her persistence paid off—Hannah gave birth to Samuel, followed by other sons and daughters.

Now, imagine if Hannah had settled. What would her life have looked like if she had accepted the consolation?

As we dive deeper, let's consider what "consolation" truly means. The dictionary defines it as "the comfort received after a loss or disappointment." Consolation offers you a chance to move on from the pain of your loss, but in doing so, you may also be moving on from your dreams and goals. It’s a temporary relief that can rob you of the reality you were meant to create.

We all face moments where it feels easier to settle, whether it's in our career or personal growth. Like Hannah, we may be offered "consolations"—promotions that don’t align with our passions, comfortable but uninspiring roles, or even praise that makes us feel valued, but not fulfilled. These moments of comfort can feel reassuring, but they often come at the cost of our true potential.

In our careers, settling can look like staying in a role because it’s safe, even when you know you have outgrown it. It can mean accepting a job offer that pays well but doesn’t align with your purpose or refusing to pursue opportunities because they seem risky or uncertain. Settling for comfort in your professional life might ease immediate stress, but it robs you of a future where you could be thriving, growing, and fully utilizing your talents.

Personal growth works the same way. We often settle when it comes to self-improvement because growth can be uncomfortable. We might avoid pushing ourselves to learn new skills, pursue higher education, or embrace new challenges because the familiar feels safer. But just like Hannah, who refused to be comforted by her husband's words, we need to resist the urge to accept less than what we’re capable of achieving.

?Why you shouldn’t settle.

Settling deprives us of achieving our true potential: Just because something is good doesn’t mean it’s the best. If you settle, you may never know what greater opportunities or success could have been possible if you had pushed just a little harder. Your previous achievements or successes shouldn't make you complacent but rather should propel you into achieving higher feat. Today's success was yesterday's dream, Tomorrow's success is subject to how well you can dream and work at it.

Convenience is a trap: Growth, whether personal or professional, requires stepping outside of your comfort zone. It may feel challenging or even painful, but it’s in those moments of discomfort that true transformation happens. I can never forget the first interaction I had with my mentor Taiwo 'Dayo-Abatan FCIPM a few years back and her direct words to me; “don’t fall into the trap of convenience”. At that moment, her words didn’t immediately register. Like many people, I had grown comfortable with the idea that life should be easy, that I deserved to avoid discomfort, and that challenges should only come in small doses—manageable and fleeting. However, as I began to have a thorough evaluation of myself, I realized I had begun settling for less than my worth. You are worth more than you are now, only that you don't yet realize it or have settled for less. Today and every other day, I challenge you not to settle.

Action Point:

Take a moment to reflect on where you might be settling in your own life.

Are you accepting “consolations” in your career that aren’t in line with your true passions?

Are you avoiding discomfort in your personal growth that could unlock new possibilities?

Identify one area where you can push beyond your comfort zone and take steps to achieve what you really want.

We are many times held back from our true potential due to the level of perceived comfort we seem to have.

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