Ongrowing - A guide for hard times
We got this
Hi Ongrowing friends!
Iām feeling very grateful today. Grateful for you who are spending your precious time and energy reading my words. Grateful for this community of people who read and commit to bettering themselves. Grateful for life and everything that it provides for me, the good, bad, and all in-between.
Thank you š
Todayās Story
A friend of mine has been going through a hard time. Heās heartbroken and depressed, and itās challenging for him to not feel the pain that comes along with the the cycles of negative thoughts.
When youāre in this hole of sadness and anxiety, all seems pitch black. Thereās nothing but pain that you can cling onto. Iāve been there and I can empathize with him. But, fast forward to today, Iām in a much, much better mindset. It makes me wonder: how do people bounce back from hard times? I reflected on how I climbed out of my dark place.
Seek support and lean on others
Having a healthy support system is crucial. Find those who love you, care for you, and listen to you. Share with them how youāre feelingā¦ how youāre really feeling. Go deep. As deep as you can. What is it that youāre feeling? Why are you feeling that way? Whatās triggering you? What do you keep remembering? If you have a therapist or a counselor, talk to them. If you donāt feel comfortable talking to them, reach out to your beloved and trusted ones. If you feel like you donāt have anyone, talk to a caring listener on 7cups.
Start somewhere. Anywhere.
To regain your life and energy back, start somewhere. Anywhere. That can be brushing your teeth or going for a walk or making a cup of coffee. What is a small win to you? What is a small joy to you? Do that. Do that first thing that comes to mind. You donāt have to bounce back immediately, you just have to start.
Notice your self-talk
They say that we talk to ourselves more than anyone else. I believe that wholeheartedly (but then again, I talk to myself in the shower). Weāre often harsh and, frankly, hella mean when talk to ourselves. Iāve caught myself saying to my reflection āholy shit, youāre so fatā at least twice a day. You definitely wouldnāt say that to a friend, would you? So why say those things to yourself? If in these hard times, youāre saying things like āIām horribleā, āNo one loves meā, āIām worthlessā. Catch yourself and ask a friend or a loved one if thatās really true.
Believe that youāre worthy
Most importantly, believe in yourself. Believe that you are worthy and deserving of what you wish for and what you dream of. You are a miracle, who defied the zillion odds stacked against you, and are here on this earth. How do you want to spend your short amount of time on this place? What is the life you want for yourself? Draw out that dream. Write out that dream. Bring that to life. Again, start small. Pick a thing that you can do 5 minutes a day.
Build momentum
Build on your small actions and wins, and keep going as much as you can. Donāt beat yourself up if you miss a day or two, but come back right to it as soon as you can. Make what youāre doing fun and enjoyable even if itās piled or surrounded by a lot of shitty stuff. Find that one thing you can look forward to in your day. This can be the easiest thing that comes naturally to you. Do that first. The hard tasks can come later when you get on a roll.
The Writing Prompt
Whatās one thing you can do to pick yourself up when youāre down? Use the above list for inspiration, but come up with your own as well. Remember: be gentle and easy to yourself.
With love,
Fair