3 Things to Consider When You Don’t “Fit In” At Work feat. Almond Butter Yogurt Parfait

Not fitting in has been a dilemma for as early as I can remember. In certain settings, I was often considered different from the collective group in some way—skin color, hair, body frame, culture, skill set, knowledge, talent, faith, core values, and convictions. I know I’m not the only one—you may have been there too growing up. You would think that this is something one would only experience at a tender age when still in the process of discovering who you are and trying to develop self-confidence. So something like fitting in at work shouldn’t even be an issue as an adult, right? Not quite. This doesn’t stop with age. Even in our adult years, we still experience this because as humans we desire to be seen, to be heard, to be recognized, and validated as a unique being who matters in the grand scheme of things. We want to be accepted, liked and to play an important role as a valuable member of the team. This is not always the reality, which can make you think, “man, I don’t fit in here.” Well if you’re feeling like you’re not a part of the team or like you’re the odd ball out, here are 3 things you can do to conquer this dilemma.

Engage In Your Environment

The common thing to do as an “outcast” is choose the escape route of isolation. You confine yourself to your work station, put your head down and focus on work and only work. Essentially, you’re counting down the hours until it’s time to pack up and leave for the day, everyday. That approach is not healthy and it can almost guarantee no positive change to your situation. So this is the challenge I present to you—do the opposite. Participate in the micro-world around you. Get involved and stop isolating yourself at work.

Is there an opportunity to partner up with someone on a project? Do that. Is there someone with a need you can fill? Offer up a helping hand. Is there someone that you have nothing in common with and never talk to? Spark up a conversation. Step into their space and ask them questions about themselves. You can ask something like, “How did you discover that you had a talent in what you do?” Open-ended questions are always the way to go. You want to avoid the quick dead-end “yes”/“no” answers.  People love talking about themselves and gravitate to those who give them a platform to do so, so ask away. And finally, is there someone in the office that seems to feel that they don’t fit in either? Befriend them. Chances are, you aren’t the only one that feels this way.

Play Up Your Talents

You’re fabulous—you have talents, skills and a certain something about you that others will appreciate, if they know about them. However, you first have to appreciate your uniqueness. Use what you’re good at in the office. Make it known to the point where if a certain project arises, whether work related or not, the conversation points to you as the go-to for that particular role. Sometimes if you feel like you don’t belong at work, it’s because you haven’t allowed yourself to shine in the area of what you do best. When you do that, you give others something to relate to about you—something they can connect with. You’ll be giving others an opportunity to get to know you which opens the door for healthy work relationships. At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships, so open up and be uniquely you. Your differences can actually be what creates bonds at work.

Realize That Not Fitting In Is An Awesome Thing

You were made to be different. You were meant to stand out. God created you with something special in mind. Your presence is supposed to make a difference to your environment. You’re supposed to be set apart from the rest, positioned to impact others with your faith, personality, integrity, convictions, and work ethic. If you fit right into the world around you—now that would be a real problem. Not fitting in however is a good thing, and an indication that there’s a chance for positive change to be made–and the change-maker is you! Don’t let this power go to waste—embrace it and use it, today.  

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

ALMOND BUTTER COCONUT YOGURT PARFAIT
Ingredients
1 carton of Almond Butter yogurt – I bought mine from Trader Joe’s
1 handful of Raspberries
1 Pear
½ Tsp. Nutmeg
1 Tbsp. Honey

Instructions
Assemble parfait how you like it. I added my yogurt to the bowl, cut my pear into wedges, added my raspberries, and topped it with sprinkles of nutmeg and drizzles of honey. This is a “recipe/no-recipe” recipe, which means it’s a great go-to breakfast when you have limited time and brain space to even think about what to make for breakfast.

Enjoy!

To Powerful Workweeks & Good Morning Eats!

Love,
Yardley