Leadership Inside Out

Issue 125

The Undervaluing Dilemma

April 4, 2026

Hello Beautiful Human –

Each week I show up in your inbox calling you a beautiful human, but do you know how brilliant you are?!?

The world may discount you because of your background, your neurodiversity, your job title, or some other thing you think, doesn’t measure up or isn’t quite good enough.

Stop discounting yourself.

Reclaim your right to know your value.

When we know our value…

  • We stop feeling guilty for caring for our wellbeing.
  • We stop needing others to affirm us.
  • We stop second guessing ourselves & we have our own backs in the learning process.

Committing yourself to make a difference in this world on is not an easy task.

The emotional weight of caring deeply about the work that you do while also feeling undervalued is rough. I see you, passionate change agents.

The capitalist market has horribly discounted the richness of the nonprofit and social sector.

The psychological injury caused by being undervalued collectively and individually is real.

Placing our value assessment in the hands of external markets, coworkers, bosses, foundations, and even loved ones is a fast way to burnout proving ourselves.

In my own journey as an idealist, I am grateful for the coaches who supported me in healing from professional injury and undervaluing myself.

I hold space for the grief of all the time I let old narratives (internal & external) tell me I wasn’t enough.

I hold space for the sadness over all the time I allowed myself to believe the lie that doing good and caring about justice meant that scarcity and exhaustion was just a part of the deal.

Here’s the remedy:

WE HAVE THE MEDICINE WITHIN FOR OUR OWN HEALING.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE MARKET, YOUR BOSS or COWORKERS, OR FUNDERS TO CHANGE TO REMEMBER YOUR VALUE.

Being an effective social impact leader becomes infinitely easier when we stop undervaluing who we are and what we have to offer.

We must first be aware of the value we create. (I see you tracking your to do’s and not your done list).

Be awake to the goodness you already embody. (Our protective brain wants us to focus on areas of growth instead of what we’ve already got.)

Your empathy and calling to make a difference truly holds society together.

Do you remember this truth when you confront complexity and challenges in your work?

They can defund us, call diversity, equity, and inclusion dangerous, and threaten us in all sorts of ways – but bringing people together, creating healthy thriving communities for all, and caring for eachother IS the greatest richness of a community.

Do you allow yourself to feel deep pride for choosing to use your career in this way?

Like really feel it.

For longer than the 10 seconds right before you hit submit on that grant report?

Cause let’s be honest, your nervous system was just wrecked trying to get the spreadsheet right and the foundation portal to work correctly before you crash or run off to some other urgent meeting. #nonprofitlife

Knowing your brilliance and the joy of your work makes it easier to step into abundance.

Abundance of ideas.

Abundance of connections.

Abundance of energy.

Abundance of resources … yes, I’m talking $$.

If you struggle with undervaluing yourself and the work that you do, I get it.

Undervaluing ourselves is a pattern. It’s a habit and its woven within our economic system and social impact culture.

It’s in our nervous system.

I’d love for you to join me and unsubscribe from undervaluing ourselves.

Today I celebrate you and I hope you do too.

Con amor, Sonya

Holistic Leadership Development Coach

p.s. If you are curious how to break free of the patterns and nervous system responses that are not serving you and to step into abundance, book a discovery call.

p.p.s. I’ve been loving this jam to stay strong, be audacious, and move forward in focused power. Enjoy.