The last two years have really tested my resilience, patience, and tenacity.
To my own surprise, I’m still here trudging through the harrowing conflict. I’ll save details for another day (maybe even year) when it doesn’t feel so close to home, but I thought it’s time for a status check – mainly to kill the radio silence. And since I’m soaking in a huge introspective period (when am I not?), let’s wax poetic on what to do when life gives you lemons…
Perseverance is everything.
If there’s anything I’ve learned in the process of major life transitions, it’s to keep going. You can’t put a pause on all that’s flashing before you just because you’re not in the mood or because your circumstances are not ideal. Okay – maybe a week of it is acceptable, but any longer than that and it becomes more of a hindrance than a helper. No matter what happens, you must remember that perseverance is key even if it means slowing down. You have to keep living.
There’s power in visual.
I recently realized that visualization has probably been the most motivational factor that keeps me moving forward. It’s so subconscious I don’t even notice when I’m doing it… I feel like a total nerd divulging, but no shame if it works. What this means is that I always envision the process and end result I want – and not just the end result, but how I’ll feel when that moment transpires. The emotional realization is what really makes me commit. Envision and execute.
Stop overanalyzing.
I always remind myself that everything in this life is temporary. You can never be so sure that what’s yours today will be yours tomorrow. All that means is that whatever you’re going through right now doesn’t really matter. In 5 years, it’ll become a distant memory that was part of hewning you into who and what you were meant to be. If you analyze something too much, you’ll never do anything about it. It will be hard and there will be sacrifices, but if it enriches and satisfies you, then it is worth it.
Give it time.
When pressed with difficult life decisions, never feel compelled to rush. This is your life. Your choice. Too often we allow the opinions of others to distort what should be appropriate for ourselves. Drown out the noise and listen to yourself. You are entitled to take as long as you need to make a decision. At some point, you do have to make a choice and stick with it. What’s meant to be will eventually be (that doesn’t mean there are free passes though – you still have to put in the work).
