Today's Battles
SO I had the perfect post or at least the works of what I would define as “perfect” and somehow I deleted it. The words to follow may just be better than what I previously wrote. That being said, I made a goal to blog every week. My mantra for this year is consistency. Therefore, I won’t fault myself for missing last week, I am simply going to get back on the horse and keep on keeping on.
I have always prided myself on being proactive, yet somewhere along the way or over the years I’d prioritize others and neglect myself. It wasn’t until I did get into my Ph.D. program where I really learned that the first step towards leadership is knowing thyself. Even Shakespeare himself once wrote, “to thy own self be true”. Across various philosophies, or spiritual beliefs this is a universal truth. Besides, how can we pour into others from an empty cup?
As I reflect on my goals that I set for 2021, as for January, I confronted my fear of singing and began singing lessons. A win for me. As for the losses well, I also learned this month that sometimes failure once again is a better teacher than anything else in life, besides it isn’t necessarily a “failure” if you learned from it. I also reflected on how far I’ve come. It used to be that I ran away from confronting my own inner demons, beginning with my grief which is an on-going process and getting better at managing my anxiety. At some point, in my late 20’s and earlier 30’s, I realized that the only thing that stood in the way of accomplishing other goals I set was me. However, I also celebrate the “wins” in my life too, and for those and so many other things I have, I am grateful. I used to think the journey was over, especially after grad school. I realize now that I’m just getting started!
It is those moments where I felt like I “failed” or where I missed an opportunity or when I didn’t always get it right that I began to change slowly but surely. ALL of the things I thought I would never survive including my grief, I did. My mentality changed. Eventually, I became emotionally stronger and really became a better version of myself. I still wrestle with my grief or other things I’m still working out but those “tests”, those trials and tribulations gave me fuel to fight today’s battles with a different strategy and mindset. I encourage whoever is reading this, my dear friend, while I may not know you, we are still human. This means that we feel things and our experiences may be different or perhaps they’re similar I don’t know. What I do know is that you have what it takes to make it. If you’ve faced difficulties before and overcome them, then whatever you’re going through right now, you will make it! You and I both did not come this far in life to only come this far. The beauty of life can be summed up in the words of Robert Frost which is “it goes on”. How great is that? We never have to be defined by the things we did or didn’t do. We have the power to change or re-write the story. It isn’t over, we get to try and try again! Besides our situations don’t change overnight as much as we would like them to; however, we have the choice to come up higher. Sometimes the circumstance won’t change until we do. And yes sometimes circumstances do change us in the process. Yet in the moments where it feels like all hope is lost, that’s also the time where it’s ok to ask for help. Human beings were designed for connection. Where is the fun in knowing it all, or doing it all by ourselves? Do you know how much pressure that adds? An unnecessary amount. We cannot face today’s battles with yesterday’s mindset.
We have what it takes to make it! If we know how the story ends and who’s really in charge (God/the universe) then why stress? Easier said than done to trust, I get it and I’m still learning too. BUT let’s remember to enjoy this moment whatever it looks like and take each one as it comes. Live for today since that’s really all we have. There is relatively very little we can control, and the rest is often out of our hands. Let us also remember that we must remain impeccable with our word, which means speaking kindly to ourselves and about others, don’t take anything personally (often how we get treated by others is in direct correlation with how they see themselves so it has relatively little to nothing to do with us), let’s not jump to conclusions or make false assumptions and always do our best. I will say that our best varies daily based on sleep, nutrition, exercise, etc…
WE GOT THIS folks! Besides the WHOLE point of challenges anyway is to get us to the next level or phase in our lives anyway, so we might as well embrace it right? Greatness takes time. We don’t always get to choose our battles and if we do, we must choose wisely. We also get to choose how we respond to them. Again, often they’re happening for us whether we realize it or not.
Love and light xo
