Hello! How are you? I’ve had a little bit of a rough week dealing with some personal stuff. It happens. I am really trying to stay positive and happy so I do a few things to keep from just feeling bad for myself when I’m having a challenging time.
How I’m Dealing…
1. Talking, kinda… I feel like What’s App is genius when you’re going through a rough time and don’t want to bother your friends at random hours of the day. I leave one of my close friends voice messages whenever I feel like I just need to talk or share and get something off my chest. It is really helpful to me and she can listen to it when she gets a minute.
(I should probably go to therapy, which I’m totally open to but haven’t looked into yet. )
2. Pray. This is always the best go-to idea to have peace in my heart. I read a quote this week that said “Prayer is the different between panic and peace.”
3. Accept that it sucks. A few times I’ve just let myself be sad. When I think about it during a run I feel like I’m about to hyperventilate because I start breathing quickly so that’s not a great idea. Instead I’ve let myself just think about it at home alone and just process what’s happening right now in my world.
I listened to a lecture by Taryn Toomey about letting go of anything that is holding you down or holding you back from living. It was oddly emotional. I am just holding onto a lot of stuff, but it felt good to just kind of acknowledge it and let it go. (I looked for the lecture, but I can’t link to it since it’s a lecture from my Nutrition Certification class and not open to share.)
4. Seek out positive articles, quotes, lectures… everyone goes through stuff and some people are very good at sharing how they got through it. It’s helpful to hear that I’m not tragic or weak or a lost cause. I read a few articles on Psychology Today that were helpful. I read something that reminded me I’ve been through other challenging times and gotten through them.
Resources:
Positive Thinking Meditation Video
Coping with Stress after a Break-Up < – this has some great affirmations
5. Run! This is my favorite thing to do (well besides eating). I had a great 8 miler this morning.
Post run I used the stick to roll out a tight area in my baby cow. I saw a marathon movie one time where someone would dig a frozen butter knife into a certain muscle in their leg to massage it or something, I feel like I want to try that (and I also feel like that scares me).
And I have no idea what happened last night, but my plants looked like this:
I woke up to them looking like this:
My one new friend that has replaced SR and lives in Orange County too said it didn’t rain at her house. I think a cloud just exploded over my place last night!!
I’ve been reading your blog awhile, but never commented. After reading this I felt the need to. Remember that in many ways the tough times are hard to be seen as blessings, but they always are in the end. Keep putting one foot in front of another mentally, physically, and most importantly spiritually. Good luck and keep letting your soul shine!
Monica, I’ve been going through my own stuff lately too. It’s really hard to focus or care about much of anything when you’re down in the dumps trying to figure out how you got here and how you’re going to get out of here. Depression can get a strangle hold on you and choke the joy out of everything. I hate to talk about it because frankly, I don’t really want people to know what’s going on. They can’t figure things out for me, they can’t solve my problems and I don’t want to sound like a whiner. So I keep to myself which makes loneliness a horrible sidekick to the depression. As hard as it it, keep pushing yourself through. It’s a valley and there is a mountain top on the other side. The sun will come out and shine again.
Thank you Tracey. I’m sorry you’re going through a hard time. I just wish someone could tell me what to do or give me a glimpse into the future when it’s all settled. Sending you peaceful happy vibes 🙂
I can’t hula hoop and I worry that some day, I’ll need to do it to win a $1M contest or something.
Now I’m stressed about that!
Sorry you’re having a rough time! I recently read an amazing book – On Fire by John O’Leary…I promise you will not regret reading it! It’s incredible and has already been helping me a lot!
Thank you Amy. I’m going to look that up.
Praying for you! xoxoxo
I really appreciate that 🙂 Thank you Taylor.
I’ve been going through a rough time too. I don’t know why. Well, I kind of do, but I’m not sure exactly what I can do to remedy the situation. Knowing that I’m not alone is helpful. Thanks for sharing. I’m also going to keep running. Pushing my body helps my mind.
Ya, there was a cat or something digging around in that planter.
i’m sorry things are shitty right now. just know you have a community that really cares. virtual hugs 🙂
Are you talking about the Graston method? If so, it works http://youtu.be/GQhtavGoL6A
Prayer…definitely. And run! I have the stick too! So helpful. Hula-hoop….um, I used to when I was little, but haven’t in a LONG time! lol! Said a prayer for you. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this! Hang in there!
Hoping things improve! I definitely get this! I don’t talk to people alot about what is going on inside me.
I need to hula hoop again! I used to be great as a kid!!! HUGE HUGS!!!
I like the affirmations that you posted. I went through a tough breakup years ago and wish I had listened to that advice, especially the stop caring what he thinks or feels. I feel like a completely different person now, life gets better and better!
*hugs*
I took a hula hoop class once! I’m still not good at it, but I learned a trick or two to impress my little cousins and such.
I know this is totally unsolicited advice, but give yourself space and permission to feel however you feel. The key for me is in not letting it turn into wallowing or a pity party. At particularly rough times I’ve been known to set a timer, give myself 30 minutes, and then move on to more positive psychology. Holding on to things that no longer serve you can close you off to new opportunities.
(Unrelated: I love your blog! I’m a California girl living in the Pacific Northwest and reading gives me a little bit of home every time. Thanks a bunch!)
Thank you 🙂
Those plants look like a critter went to town and had a crazy dirt bath!
Do you think it could have been that? I can’t decide what the heck happened?!
Oh yes! My nieces just get hysterical that I can hula hoop (since I’m “old”). It can be a lot of fun to pull them out when we have family get-togethers.
Sorry for your sadness, Monican. You know we’re all in your corner. I like what Tara pointed out: Hold On Pain Ends.
I’m an expert hoola hooper. I won a hoola hoop contest once.
You think rain did that to your plants? It looks like something got in there a had a field day! Maybe a Vegas friend?
Hang in there…you’ll get through this rough patch.
You won a hula hoop contest?! I can’t even get it around once.
I love hula hooping!!
This may sound silly, but something that helped me get through some really rough times was a quote I saw on Pinterest. “HOPE – hold on pain ends.” I’ll be praying for you and I hope everything works out soon.
Yes, i can hola hoop!! I won a contest at work 2 years ago!!!
Instead of using a butter knife, go see a chiropractor or a Physical Therapist trained in Graston, it’s quite painful, but it works!!
Yeah I can hula hoop. It’s not glamourous though. Lol.
Hang in there. I just shared my thoughts on my Facebook page yesterday about ups and downs. I was watching my husband die of cancer at this time 17 years ago. 4 days later (4/19) he passed in my arms. I couldn’t imagine ever feeling the grief lift. But it did. I couldn’t imagine ever being so in love again but I am. Took 15 years but I have perspective now.
You will be ok no matter the sad crappy stuff going on.
Thank you Sally. I can’t even imagine how hard that was, I’m sorry. You are so strong xoxo