What It Really Means to Invest in Yourself
The last week has been quite the roller coaster. And the message that has come through the loudest is this: when you invest in yourself, you can grow into the person you have always wanted to be.
I want to say first that when I talk about investment, yes, that can mean financial. But it isn’t limited to that. You can invest in yourself with time, energy, headspace, and effort. All of those count as investment too. When I say investing in yourself, I mean taking a step or making a concerted effort to look at yourself honestly and see how you can grow.
I want to share some reflections from my own journey and the lessons I’ve learned about investing in myself. One moment that really stood out to me this past weekend was realizing that if you had asked me ten years ago whether I would one day be sitting at a table with incredible women entrepreneurs, I would have thought you were crazy.
Ten years ago, I was in the lowest place I had ever been. I had been burnt out for years and didn’t even realize it. I let it go on for so long that I became depressed. I couldn’t imagine getting out of bed the next day, let alone see any kind of future for myself. But even in that lowest place, something in me took one small step. I called and booked an appointment with a therapist.
That one step sent a message to myself and my nervous system that I mattered. It was the beginning of a journey that continues today, one that has allowed me to become a person I never could have imagined was inside me, but one I had quietly hoped I could be.
Someone who knows who she is and tries to show up as herself. Honest. Vulnerable. Imperfect, but authentic. Someone who makes decisions from a place of worthiness and alignment with who she is and what she needs. Someone who knows she has worth, that she is enough, and that her voice matters.
That doesn’t mean the hesitation, fear, or doubt are gone. They aren’t. In just the past week, I’ve made big financial investments in myself. I’ve made big investments of time and energy. And I’ve pushed myself well outside my comfort zone.
I think we often assume that if hesitation, fear, or doubt show up, it means the opportunity isn’t right or that we aren’t ready. Or we come up with a million reasons and roadblocks to put in our own way. For me, those hesitations, fears, and doubts are always going to be part of the process. I actually see them as a signal to pause and evaluate whether something is the right decision. Because not all investments will be.
But this part matters. I cannot let those fears stop me when it is the right one. If I wait to invest in myself until everything lines up perfectly, that day will never come.
Lately, I’ve been making decisions and investments that reinforce a simple truth: I matter. I am enough. I am worthy. My hope is that somewhere in these words, you can see that you do too.
If you’re ready to do the work, whether that’s with me or somewhere else, I applaud you. I’ll be your cheerleader along the way. And if you’re not there yet, I see you too. I was you once. Keep getting out of bed. Keep taking it one day at a time. That day will come.
I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at ruth@groundingwithruth.com or DM me on Facebook or Instagram @groundingwithruth. What is one way you’re choosing to invest in yourself?
