My last post was a bit of a downer. It's been like that a lot at our house recently, but that's another post entirely. In the middle of all the down, it's hard to see anything but how awful everything is. It's a part of human nature to focus only on what we are currently experiencing. That's why it is so hard to remember the horrible truth.
The truth is that we are capable. We are talented. We are powerful. We can do the things we want to do. We can do hard things. And, most importantly, we can be happy with who we are and what we do. We can honor our efforts and know that they are good enough. We can keep working, even when it's difficult and we want to quit.
When it feels like everything is on a downward spiral; when we can't seem to feel motivated to start something; when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, the horrible truth is right there. All those things are just our fears getting in the way of who we really are. Deep, deep down--so deep we may not even recognize it--the core of us says, "Don't believe it. I know you are more than all of this. You are everything you want to be."
So, friends, that's my horrible truth. What's yours?
6 comments:
I get like this, too, when things go wrong or don't happen as quickly as I suppose. I recently read a book The Devil in the White City about the creation of the Chicago World's Fair (and a serial killer but that's another issue), and I was struck by how hard it was, how much went wrong, over and over again, and thought "this is what life is. Where do we get the idea that it's all going to be so easy?" The World's Fair turned out to exceed everyone's wildest hopes and dreams, but not before two years of grueling effort, people dying, etc etc.
Sorry for the long comment but your post struck a chord in me, with things I think about a lot.
If you go back and read my posts from a couple of weeks ago, I went through a major down period, too. I tried to mask it the best I could on my blog, but people still picked up on it and emailed me. You're right; we tend to let "down" times seep into every aspect of our days. And you're also right that we can be everything we want to be! :-)
Oh, Kayeleen, I hear ya. It's so easy to focus on the negative and to feel left behind. I hope you're feeling better (and making progress on your work-in-progress).
This is why I exercise. I find it really helps. And when I don't exercise for a while (even if it's just a walk), I feel even more depressed.
Hope you're feeling better!
Thanks for posting this. I really struggled with it the last half of December. Exercising, especially outside, helps me too.
I really liked Elder Uchtdorf's talk, last conference, on slowing down when you hit turbulence.
What a life-affirming post. Sometimes it's very hard to clear away the badness and hear that core voice you mention. Hope things are better at your house soon!
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