keep + going

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I'm doing so much. Taking care of myself. Why is it still so…hard?” Because same.

This one is for you who is journaling, self-caring, doing the work, and still feeling anxious and discouraged.

Somedays are like that. Somedays are harder than others. Maybe some weeks, or seasons, are hard. When I'm in the middle of this, I remind myself that this is what the self-care and habits were for all along. This is what we trained for, so to speak.

In the middle of the messier moments, in the discouragement, I encourage you to take one small step in the right direction. Remind yourself that you won't be forever in the dark. Let the habits set in, the ones you've been cultivating, and make one small move forward.

For me, I let habit and discipline take over. I dig deeper into my self-care list.

I turn up the music.

Go for a walk.

Exercise.

Get into nature.

Eat warm soup and veggies.

Wash my face.

Dance it out.

Call a friend.

Read a book.

For me, these aren't simply self-care to-do's, they're strategies to get me back to myself.

Healing and personal growth are not happening mostly on the mountaintop. They take place in the valley. Healing takes place when you make one, small, kind decision for yourself while in the valley. This is what leads to the uphill.

Eventually, once I take one small step… then the next, then the next… I tend to find myself again along the way uphill.

If you feel discouraged, I see you.

If you're wondering what all this work is for anyway, I see you.

I'm here to tell you that it's worth it. You can do hard things. Even this.