A Rough Week . . .
It’s been a rough week.
Ever have one of those? When nothing seems to go right? This week I battled sickness, cared for a sick child while working, got two rejections on my writing, my lawnmower died, AND my dishwasher broke. That was the start of it.
I know, I know. It could be worse. There is a whole world of worse things out there happening to people. I myself have had weeks that were way worse. Heck, never mind worse weeks, I’ve had whole SEASONS of life where I was 100% sure someone must have put a curse on me because literally, the most ridiculous, horrible things happened in a short time. I lost loved ones, had family hurt in major accidents, lost jobs, faced death, you name it. But those are all posts for another day.
Still, this past week, I found myself becoming a victim of it. I forgot all my self-help tips (take a break, remember what I'm grateful for, etc.). Instead, I wallowed in my own one-person self-pity party. I even (hold your breath) considered giving up writing. THAT’s how frustrated I was. Of course, I’d never give up writing. I mean, you might as well say stop breathing. I couldn’t do it if I tried.
I tell you all of this to prove that I’m human. And to remind you that following your passion is hard. We all face self-doubt, criticism, failure, uncertainty, and more throughout our lives. How can we move past it?
What I’ve learned is this: Before any great breakthrough, there’s always a fall. Always. Think back to your life and you will see that before you “made it” to any of your goals, you more often than not faced a struggle or a failure first. Don’t believe me? Check out these famous examples here: https://skyprep.com/2021/06/04/7-famous-people-who-failed-a-lot-before-they-succeeded/ and https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/10-people-who-became-wildly-successful-after-facing/249961.
Struggle is necessary for growth. It builds resilience, tenacity, problem-solving skills, and more. It’s only in the face of adversity that we discover our true potential and learn life’s most valuable lessons.
Imagine reading a book or watching a moving without a villain. What would be the point of the story? In stories, just like in real life, it's our opponents (whether that be a person or a circumstance) that push us out of our comfort zones. Pushing out of our comfort zones makes us braver, happier, and more alert/ready for other opportunities and challenges.
So, what can you do when life knocks you down? There’s no magic secret (at least not one I’ve discovered). Just keep going. Stay persistent. Remember your why (see last week’s post on this!). Reach out for support. Take a rest. But mostly, don’t give up.
That said, all in all, despite the rough start of my week, it DID end up well. Everyone is feeling healthier, I finished Britney Spears’s memoir (Yes, I’m a sucker for celebrity memoirs!), I found out that a special creative nonfiction piece I wrote last year (that was previously rejected TWICE) is going to be published in November (more to come soon!), and I saw Five Nights at Freddie’s at the movies (check it out, it’s a great Halloween weekend flick!). Now, I can’t wait to curl up this weekend with Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book – my Halloween weekend reading choice.
In the meantime, keep going friends. Whatever you’re going through, whatever dreams you are reaching for just remember, You’ve GOT this!
Xoxo,
Sarah
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