Navigating Doubt and Opposition: The Commitment to Just Keep Swimming

Last week, I was in a meeting when someone asked me what keeps me so driven. I realized I had never really thought about that before. Honestly, I don’t always feel as driven as I think I should be. After a moment of thought, I locked in on a moment that has continued to push me every time I think of it.

I was fresh out of college, working an admin job. A few years in, a couple of communications positions opened up, and I eagerly applied. However, the president didn’t give me a chance; no recognition at all. I had worked tirelessly, demonstrating my creativity, dedication, and capability.

The positions were filled, and months later, they opened again. I thought, “Surely, I’ll be considered this time.” So I re-applied. When my boss scheduled a meeting, I was confident I would nail the interview.

On the day of our meeting, I arrived with freshly done hair, a suit, and heels that my knees and ankles could never handle now in my 40s. I sat across from her with a big smile. She looked at me, clasped her hands, and said, “I want you to stop applying. You will NEVER work in Comms here, and I don’t believe you’ll ever be successful as a writer.”

Y’all, the devastation I felt was almost impossible to describe. As I listened, tears welled up in my eyes. When she finished, I simply smiled, thanked her, and walked out in my heels, head held high.

Back at my desk, the tears started to fall. I spent nearly a year wrestling with that moment. Up until then, I believed I was destined to be a writer. One day, for no particular reason, I realized I could choose how I let those words affect me—whether to fuel doubt or passion. I chose passion.

What’s the point, sis?

No matter your career path, at some point, you’ll face the choice of how to let opposition impact you. Since then, I’ve had plenty of moments of doubt, but I made a commitment to “just keep swimming.”

Motivation isn’t always constant. Sometimes, the people whose opinions matter most don't see it the way you do. And that’s OK. My advice? Be honest with yourself about the life and career you want. Leave room for the unexpected, and revisit your vision as needed. With clarity, you’ll have the strength to keep going when motivation wanes.

Whenever you hit a slump, take time to reconnect with your why—the joy of it all. I often curl up with a fun book or spend hours writing in a coffee shop. Recently, I’ve fallen in love with sipping coffee from my favorite mug while journaling on my front porch.

My hope for you is to find clarity and joy in your professional path. Work won’t always be perfect or fun, and you might not always have a cheerleader. Things will not go as planned sometimes, and there will be some closed doors along the way. But if you’re rooted in your purpose, you’ll keep moving forward.