There are times when its important to take a stand.
Taking a stand doesn’t necessarily mean that your going out to protest or march. It means that you take a stance on what you believe and you don’t wavier. Stand for something or you'll fall for anything is an old saying that I became familiar with in my teens. However, it took on new meaning as I grew older and had to start making solid decisions about who I am and what I do. When you have finally made up your mind about something it's as if life comes by to test you on what you have decided by putting you in situations that make you face that decision. It's almost as though it asks you multiple questions. For example, "Did you really mean that?” The current circumstances in your life may ask you "Are you going to stick to your guns?"
Five years ago I decided that I wanted to specialize in haircuts and hair color. I wanted to make a commitment to primarily work with natural hair and showcase the beauty in choosing to wear your own hair. I have been asked many times if I offer hair weaves and custom wig services. My answer is always no! That's not to say that I have never made a wig or I don’t know how to do commercial extensions, but I made the choice not to provide these services. I’m taking a stance on what I have decided for myself early on in my career.
Its not always easy taking a stance. A lot of times it requires strength. The type of strength that comes from within like your will to be great or your will to get ahead. There were many times where I buckled and gave into doing something that I didn’t really want to do and for the sake of pleasing someone else. I ended up compromising my time, labor, feelings and myself. If I had only chosen to be strong enough or brave enough to stand in my truth; I wouldn’t have to do anything that I really wasn’t passionate about.
I must admit, that there are moments in our life that has put us in a position where we question if we should compromise our values. Maybe settling for a profession that you might of not considered investing in in order to make money. At the end of the day if you have a passion for something and you want to stay on track with that passion you can’t wavier and you have to have faith that everything will work out for you. If you don’t believe it; well then it won’t.
I believed it was possible to be a hairstylist that specialized in haircuts and hair color; I stuck to that. Now opportunities have manifested for me to have more good things in my life, but I had to say no to things that did not match the vision I had inside. I had to refuse offers or requests that didn’t suit who I was or the trajectory of my journey.
When you are in the process of growing your hair out, sometimes you have to say no to weaves that pull at your edges. If you want your hair to stay silky, but it’s a press out; then you have to say no to allowing your hair to blow in the wind. Some things just don’t work for your trajectory even if they seem very appealing. If you're a stylist and you want your clientele to have natural hair or short hair; then you have to take a stance to only service these particular clients.
Say no to the things you don’t want and say yes to the things you do want. One decision can change your whole life.
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