Push the Button - You Are Worthy!

The story I want to share this week is a little embarrassing. I’ve shared it with a few friends, family members, and some of my coaching clients. It struck a chord with them, so I am trusting it will strike a chord with some of you reading this, too.

Many of you know I enjoy some Florida sunshine and fresh sea air while walking along Sarasota Bay several mornings per week. I see water birds, dolphins, and occasionally a manatee or two! The path takes me over a large bridge and winds through two different parks beneath it. It’s a joyful way to start my day and move my body.

Normally, I can make the loop without ever needing to cross traffic, thanks to those little parks on either end of the bridge. Last fall, two powerful hurricanes tore up those parks. To keep people safe while they make the necessary repairs, the city fenced them off, blocking my usual route. Now, instead of strolling the paths along the turquoise water, I have to walk up to a crosswalk, press the button, and wait for the signal to cross the road.

No big deal, right?

Well—maybe not. But a few weeks ago, as I approached the crosswalk on a busy holiday morning, I noticed a long line of cars stopped at the red light waiting to cross the bridge. When the light turned green and traffic started moving again, this thought dropped into my mind:

“I can’t push the button. Traffic has already been stopped for a while. If I hit it now, I’ll interrupt traffic flow again for all those drivers.”

It was such a subtle, seemingly innocuous thought. But it prevented me from pressing that button. Then a more rational and empowered voice spoke.

“Wait a minute! Why am I prioritizing the convenience of the people in these cars over my own? They can certainly wait 30 seconds for me to cross the street safely. Just like I’ll have to wait a minute or two for the light to change again.” 

So without hesitating another second, I pressed the button at the crosswalk. And it felt so good!

Now I’m not saying I never put my needs first because I certainly do. I’ve been working on this worthiness piece for quite a while. Probably my whole adult life. But here it was again. That old familiar voice whispering in my ear that my needs aren't as important as everyone else’s.

This small triumph at the crosswalk was a pivotal moment. It also gave me a powerful metaphor to work with. Even when the feeling of unworthiness sneaks in through the side door—disguised as politeness, humility, or selflessness, I can recognize it for what it is, and push the button anyway! 

Despite what you may have been told, it is not selfish to honor your own needs. We cannot give from an empty cup. If we don’t fill our own cup first, we have nothing to pour into anyone else’s cup. It's not selfish. It's necessary!

This may feel very uncomfortable if you grew up in a home where you had to set your needs aside or in a culture where self-sacrifice was not only encouraged but revered. If anything I’ve shared resonates with you, I invite you to be the observer throughout your day. Where are you still waiting for permission to take up space? Where are you still setting aside your needs? Are there places where you need to press that button?!

If you could use more support to reclaim your place and your worthiness, I’d love to walk with you “across the street.” I offer Spiritual Coaching Sessions grounded in the loving principles of A Course in Miracles and other spiritual tools I’ve gathered along the way. I also facilitate private Family Constellations, a powerful healing modality that releases generational patterns and opens you to more peace, joy, and freedom. For more information and to book a session, please look around my website. 

Until next time, please remember:

You are worthy.

Your needs matter.

And it’s ok to press the button! 

I don’t recall ever being encouraged to cherish myself—in fact, it would never even have occurred to me to do so. It’s commonly thought of as being selfish. But my NDE allowed me to realize that this was the key to my healing.

~ Anita Moorjani from her bestselling book “Dying to be Me”