Have you ever felt like you were playing a supporting role in your own life? There is a quiet, heavy weight that comes with minimizing your own achievements or downplaying your unique talents. Suze Orman’s words serve as a profound wake-up call for anyone who has ever apologized for taking up space. When we treat our skills, our time, and our worth as if they are negotiable or secondary, we inadvertently give everyone else permission to do the same. We teach the world that our value is up for debate, and eventually, the world begins to believe us.

In our everyday lives, this often shows up in much smaller, subtle ways. It is in the way we accept a lower salary because we feel lucky to even have a job, or how we let friends cancel plans with us at the last minute without saying anything. We think we are being humble or easy-going, but in reality, we are slowly eroding our own foundation. We are sending out a signal that our needs and our presence are optional, and when we do that, we find ourselves surrounded by people and circumstances that reflect that very lack of respect.

I remember a time when I was working on a project for a community garden. I spent weeks researching, organizing, and even planting the first few seeds, but whenever someone complimented the progress, I would immediately say, Oh, it was nothing, anyone could have done it. I was so afraid of sounding boastful that I completely erased my own contribution. Because I didn't claim my work, the organizers stopped asking for my input, and I eventually felt sidelined and invisible. It took me a long time to realize that by refusing to value my effort, I had essentially opted out of the importance of my role.

It is so important to remember that your worth is not a sliding scale that changes based on other people's opinions. It is a constant. When you start standing tall in your truth and acknowledging the incredible things you bring to the table, the energy around you begins to shift. You start attracting opportunities and relationships that recognize the true depth of your character.

Today, I want to encourage you to take a moment and look at everything you have accomplished, no matter how small it might seem. Write down three things you are proud of and say them out loud. Start by valuing yourself, and watch how the world begins to rise to meet you.