It's Not the End of the World

When life gets out of control, it's so easy to let the tough times consume your thoughts. But, does it help?

One of my children is going through a rough time.  They're dealing with a lot of stress and feel overwhelmed.  As a parent, I want to do everything I can to help.  As someone who remembers her teen years well, I want my child to know that it really is going to be okay.

Got me to thinking about perspective.  When you're a teen, there are events and upsets that feel like the end of the world.  But, someone who has lived through similar situations can easily say that it will be okay.  But for the person in the moment, it really feels worse and its hard to see beyond what's happening.

As an adult, I've been through sine really challenging times.  And I've felt like I'd never get behind the moments that held me in an emotional tornado.  But, when I put things in perspective, I began to see the future.

See, even though I was temporarily homeless, I had to be thankful because other people have been homeless for many years.

Even though I struggled to pay my car payments, I had to be thankful I had a car, as many people don't.

Even though I had a ton of bills, I had to be thankful that I want dealing with a foreclosure or bankruptcy and that I had a job.

Most of the challenges people face are not permanent.  It's not the end of the world.  There may be pain and disappointment and challenges, but if you can get some perspective on the situation, then you can also open up to new solutions.

• Take one day at a time.
• Be thankful for what you have.
• Keep focused on what you want.
• Do the best you can, With what you have, where you are.

It'll be okay my friend.  Today is a new day.  Make the best of it.

Remember:

The most important relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. Invest in YOU because only you can create a life you love.

Love,



~Joy~

Learning to Move On...

Learning to move on...

It's not an easy thing to do.  Leaving behind what you know.  Who you know.  The places you know.  No one welcomes change very easily.  Especially when you don't feel that the change is of your own choosing.

When you leave a relationship, romantic or friendly, it hurts.  All that you know is not the same anymore.

When you leave a job, it's challenging.  Whether you quit or were fired, you feel insecurity and frustration.

The unknown looms and it's a hella scary thing.

Here's some advice I've learned and live by:

• Keep your focus forward.  Not on where you are, but on where you want to go.
• Create new habits.  That situation may have become a huge part of who you are, so it's not easy.  But, forming new habits will slowly change the "norm" for you and that's a good thing.
• Crowd out the old with what you love to do.  If you're hurting and feel lonely, find healthy outlets to fill that need.  One that make you feel good inside and lift you up.
• Take it one day at a time; one baby step at a time.

Like I said in a previous post... Do the best you can, with what you have, where you are.

Believe in YOU.

Love YOU.

Do right by YOU.

You're meant to shine my friend.  Bring out that inner superstar and SHINE.

This post is dedicate to AM, GM and every other woman out there dealing with shit.

Remember:

The most important relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. Invest in YOU because only you can create a life you love.

Love,



~Joy~

Do The Best You Can...

Do The Best You Can, 

With What You Have, 

Where You Are

One of my favorite sayings, based on the quote by Theodore Roosevelt. 

When life spirals out of your control, there's only so much you can do.

I've accepted that things happen in my life that will be painful, and that I cannot control what others do.  I can only control my own reactions, behaviors, words, thoughts...

So, every day I remind myself, "Joy, do the best that you can, with what you have, where you are."  It is harder some days than others.  
And once in awhile it feels IMPOSSIBLE.  But what I've also found is that if I focus on what I need to do, the goals I have for myself, it gets easier to do the best I can.

This week has been rough for me.  A lot of emotional pain and suffering, but I choose to move forward.  I get up and put my feet on the ground, just like every other day.  I get up and get going, because it's what needs to be done.  

I'm no superwoman.  I'm just a woman.

For quite awhile, I held a close relationship to someone who recently destroyed it with their behavior and deception.  When you give trust and respect to another person, in any kind of relationship, and they hurt you, it's painful.  

But...
Out of pain, can come growth.  
Out of hurt, can come healing.  
Out of a bad experience, can come understanding and empathy.
Out of the storm, the sunlight will shine.

As long as you know you're giving it your all...take comfort in that.

As long as you appreciate what remains...be blessed by that.

As long as you know where you are now isn't where you will stay...see hope in that.

Out of my personal situation, comes new, beautiful things.

Whatever you' may be facing, just do the best you can my friend.

<3

Joy