Written by: Imani Missouri, 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.
Dear Reader,
I write this with love, wisdom and a true desire to see you faithfully transition to your next. I want that next to be purposeful and fulfilling. I want you to be healed from the brokenness, workplace trauma, racial micro (and not so micro) aggressions and feelings of inadequacy. I want to see you thrive and guess what? You were born to thrive but let me ask you this critical question: Beyoncé says quit your job, so now you quit?
Now sir or ma’am is that a wise decision?
I get it. I was there. I was ready to tell them “to the left to the left” a few years ago. My attitude had a bit of, “keep talking that mess, that's fine but could you walk and talk at the same time?” mixed in with it. I even sought out data and community to make sure I wasn’t delusional about what I was going through. That toxic work environment was tore up from the floor up. It was sheer raggedy to the umpteenth power. Trust me I get it. If my shredder could talk it would tell you what trauma, evil plots and plans, it chomped into tiny bits from the documentation I compiled during that period, this past weekend.
Oh, I know you may also be thinking you’re ready to “secure the bag” and/or you’re going “where the money resides”. As Kendrick Lamar posits, “how much does a dollar really cost?” Studies have shown that happiness is achieved around $85,000 so what are you really chasing?
I caution you to not make a hasty decision, possibly assuming this top-charted song was your sign to break free, but rather move by wisdom, strategy and intention. Here are some key questions to consider:
Who and what is guiding your decision?
What’s on the other side of your resignation?
If and when you leave, what are you willing to give up both internally and externally?
Are you moving further into the purpose or just making moves?
Where are you headed?
There are risks in faith but are you leaping because of faith or because ‘culture’ says it’s on brand?
You can minimize the impact to your soul with these reminders and recommendations:
You were predestined to do great work. How are you actualizing your destiny that in this very moment?
Where purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. ‒ Dr. Myles Munroe
Surround yourself with and seek out wise counsel (coaching, legal, therapy). Key word there in case you missed it is wise.
Don’t let it steal your joy. Set the tone of your environment.
Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul
Faith moves you from talking about your situation to speaking to your situation. ‒ Dr. Cindy Trimm
Your day is coming, your opportunity will arise, but the question is, will you rise to the occasion? ‒ Yvonne Orji
Good transition takes forethought, time, and patience. ~‒ Dr. John A. Tetsola
It is a privilege to not endure work as punishment but rather as worships. Who and what are you serving in your current work? Who and what will you be serving in your pending transition?
In closing, I will confess, I have yet to listen to the proclaimed “anti-work anthem” because I wanted this to be unadulterated guidance. You may also be saying “Imani you don’t know what you’re missing!” and to that I say, I actually don’t miss “that” at all. You may not have asked for this but here’s my gift to you during this testing period. “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].” Know who you are and Whose you are first. In that there is insurmountable freedom.
In Service,
Imani “Faith”
Imani Missouri, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Imani Missouri is the Principal Owner of Faith Forward LLC, where she leverages the essence of faith to coach leaders toward their purpose. She has a number of faith-centered sub-brands that motivate women of color to reach their full potential in the professional sphere and beyond. Some of which include the Forward 40 (4tea) podcast, which highlights the experiences of 40 women of color on the rise in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. She is also the founder of The Forward Academy, a faith-centered professional development platform for women of color seeking to define themselves beyond their titles. Her career spans experience in the nonprofit, community development, and education sector. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for DIFFvelopment, a nonprofit that creates historically and globally conscious Black visionary leaders who believe in Black business, take responsibility for developing solutions to the issues Black people face, and have unshakeable pride and confidence in themselves. She is also a member of the Medal and Nominating Committees for Smith College.
