We’ve all heard “take care of yourself” at some point or other. We also live in a progressive, forward thinking society. It’s an unwritten norm that you have to (or should) look, feel and be your best self. Be the most productive, make as much money as you can. You guys know I’m ALL for those things. A lot of the posts I share here on the blog are centered around self improvement, especially in the health and wellness space. Whether physically, mentally, emotionally or financially, I do believe we should all strive to keep moving forward.
I've also realized that doing all of those things is really really HARD. Some days, I feel energized and excited about life. Other days, everything feels draining and I question “what’s the point of it all?”. It seems like a constant up hill, down hill battle. You feel like you’re making progress one day and the next you get knocked on your a**. Keeping it real with you as always— today's the a** kicking.
Somedays I just don't feel motivated. I need a break, to rest. I wanted to share my thoughts with you because it can feel very crippling at times. I often wonder whether it's just me. Am I the only one feeling like this and do I just dwell on the negativity? I asked my boyfriend tonight if he thought that was true or if we're all struggling and just putting along, trying to get through life. He said he thinks we're all struggling together and just putting along. Lol. He could just be trying to make me feel better, but I know he's right. 😉If you can also relate, I hope you'll find some kind of comfort knowing you aren't alone.
Somedays I just don't feel motivated. I need a break, to rest. I wanted to share my thoughts with you because it can feel very crippling at times. I often wonder whether it's just me. Am I the only one feeling like this and do I just dwell on the negativity? I asked my boyfriend tonight if he thought that was true or if we're all struggling and just putting along, trying to get through life. He said he thinks we're all struggling together and just putting along. Lol. He could just be trying to make me feel better, but I know he's right. 😉If you can also relate, I hope you'll find some kind of comfort knowing you aren't alone.
I follow a lot of motivational speakers and personalities through videos, podcasts and books. There’s a few things they all preach that I think is good food for thought + often helps me to get through the slumps:
+ IT’S SUPPOSE TO BE HARD - The saying “nothing worth having ever comes easy” is always being thrown around. Logically, we all know this is true. It doesn't always make you feel better in the moment, however I personally find safety in numbers. When I hear the pros talk about this and how they've been through the same ups and downs, it makes me feel a little better. Even I question it sometimes and need a reminder that if they made it, so can we.
+ DO IT ANYWAYS - You’ll also hear from almost every successful person that even when it’s hard, you do it anyways. You still get up and work towards your goal. I recently heard Mel Robbins say that if everyday you take one small step in the direction of your goal, one day you'll get there. I'll argue that some days a little detox is necessary for me to reset, however I do think it's important to keep going. Maybe that means not going full force on the off days, but just by doing something small. Even if it's one step, at least you're staying the course and not giving up. I also think if you do have an off day or mess up, it's important to start fresh and not let that derail you.
+ BE GRATEFUL FOR THE GOOD - Having gratitude and focusing on the positive things is another one everyone preaches. This one might be the hardest to do, especially when you're really feeling down. Something Steve Harvey said about gratitude has stuck with me that I think is valuable. He said some variation of "you can't be miserable and grateful at the same time." You can't be both happy and positive while also being negative and down. If you give it some thought, it's spot on. When you feel bad, you feel BAD. When you're on top of the world, you're happy. Finding the positive things in life to focus on is always a good idea, especially on the bad days. I also think maybe this is a tool to manipulate your mind a little. I'm going to actively try improving at this when I catch myself getting discouraged or frustrated. We'll see how it goes!
It's definitely not a cake wall. Whether you're focusing on goals, your mental outlook, whatever it may be--it's hard. The truly valuable and fulfilling things are hard. There are countless tips, tricks and ways out there on all of this, how to keep going, etc. They can be great tools, however I always say one of the best things you can offer yourself is grace. Give yourself a break at times, know it's normal (and okay) to feel the ups and downs and remember it's just a bump in the road. You aren't alone and you can always try again tomorrow. Try to rest easy, friends.
