Written by: Aisha Saintiche, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you ever read a quote or statement that amped you up so much you were almost compelled to kick open your door and shout ‘YES.’ But then you remembered you were the owner of that door, and kicking it would mean you would also have to pay to fix it!
The other day, while scrolling through LinkedIn (there are a lot of gems shared on that platform), I stumbled upon a post by Aaisha Joseph a DEI Disruptor, Executive Coach and Anti-Racism Strategist (yup, we have the same name, which is clearly an indication that the name produces greatness…but I digress) who talked about the inequity that many Black people experience when it comes to sacrificing all of who they are in the name of a job. This was coupled with an important point around our incapability to quit a job as it is often seen as our “inability” to “handle” a tough job or working environment. While her post was short, she ended with a powerful statement, which serves as the basis of my article this month, and that is “is quitting really quitting, or is it actually a re-balancing of healthy priorities.”
While the focus of my article is not specifically addressing the exact inequities of Black people, as a Black woman who works and has a business, the lens by which I speak on this issue may very well align with the perspective and experiences of Black people.
So, question? When did sacrificing your physical, emotional, mental, psychological, spiritual, and financial well-being in the name of a job or someone else’s success become the measurement of a good employee? And why is someone who then takes a proactive approach to remove themselves from a toxic environment considered a “quitter” and “weak.”
I don’t know about you – and this perspective that I am about to share only comes after years of being in a place of depletion from past experiences – but I will take the label of being a “quitter” if it means my ability to self-preserve.
You know, as we continue to navigate what was supposed to be a two-week disruption (this was based on the Ontario government telling me that I would only have to have my kids home for an additional two weeks post-March break in 2020), we know that many people experienced unprecedented levels of stress as a result of toxic work environments, situations, and relationships. With an over chanted “we can do this” mantra that rang like Lambchops “this is the song that never ends,” many of us had to activate a level of self-talk that silenced what we knew was best for our psychological health and safety – and that was to quit. Not negating the financial pressures also experienced at this time, the concept of quitting at the height of crisis or even creating a level of “inconvenience” for others is often deemed weak.
I mean, who made that up? Who is the head of state for “quitters” and who is positioned to tell me how, why, and when it is appropriate and right for me to be more concerned about satisfying the needs of others (to my own detriment) instead of prioritizing my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being? If you follow me on any social media platform, one of my recurring messages is the importance of recognizing your capacity to navigate your own path and that no one should queue you into your greatness. Applying the same mindset to this discussion, quitting then becomes the emancipatory activity from those people, places, and things that you know no longer serve you well.
What are we afraid of? And please let me reiterate that I fully understand some of the major financial implications that may require the sacrificing of our well-being for a period - but if that was not a factor, what are we afraid of? Are we concerned by the perception of those who didn’t regard our well-being, to begin with? Are we ruffled by the already existing stereotypes and microaggressions that present themselves in the workplace even when we are working beyond the capacity of those we work for and with? Or have we forgotten that our capacity to bounce back and thrive is not contingent on someone’s recognition of our strength? I mean, if those aren’t really barriers and we acknowledge that our responsibility to our mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological well-being holds greater importance than the already pre-conceived assumptions about you, why not quit?
Now listen…I am not telling anyone who reads this article to storm your bosses office or get on that next team's call and give your notice. But I am encouraging anyone who reads this to see themselves as worthy of the same level (if not more) of regard given to the well-being and success of others.
It’s funny how sometimes we think “sticking it out” is a demonstration of strength and resilience. When walking away…quitting...is the true act of power.
Aisha Saintiche, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazin
Aisha Saintiche is a certified Health Coach and the founder and owner of MetoMoi Health. With over fifteen years of experience in Mental Health, Accessibility and Diversity and Inclusion, Aisha has used her experience as a strategic advisor and health coach to understand the complexity and intersectionality of the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep people from achieving their optimized health and wellness.
Aisha also holds a Masters in Public Policy Administration and Law, as well as a certification in Change Management, Advanced Crisis Intervention and Counselling and Health Coaching. She is also an Integral Master for the Canadian Olympic Committee of Canada, and most recently she became a Published Author.
Always seeking opportunities to bring about change, she is also an active member and Board of Director for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) and the Board Chair for Afiwi Groove School.
