Dear Discouraged Soul,
It often seems as if you have a target tacked on your forehead that has a bull's-eye specifically for bad luck. You know, the times where you can swear you acquired an internal magnet for all of the surrounding unfortunate events. Maybe you woke up 20 minutes before having to be at work, your car runs out of gas, you get locked out of your house, a relationship ends, your stress level is through the roof, you have three papers and a presentation due on the same day, your emotions are all across the board and you are clueless as to why. The feeling that the world is working against you takes a toll, that's for sure.
I know you can relate, or else you wouldn't have clicked on this letter. Whether the feeling has been an enduring one, or you conclude that it is simply a luckless day, keep in mind that the seed of discouragement produces deep roots. For you, maybe these roots have transformed into feelings of depression, loneliness, or anxiety. It can be a battle that you never imagined that you would have to fight.
The toughest conclusion that I came to was that I had to accept that I am different. Every single other person who struggles with a discouraged heart has distinctive story. There is definitely not a universal treatment, there is not a single quote on Pinterest to magically motivate you, and there is not a single person who completely understands how you feel. As unique as your story is, I hope you can find some solace in the fact that you are not alone in feeling alone or depressed. There are millions of people who can relate to your journey, your feelings. Millions of people (myself included) are rooting for your victories over the negative thoughts, no matter how tiny that they may seem to you. Every step you take forward brings you closer to realizing that not only are you unique, but that your bruises and scars make you an incredible, beautiful soul.
There is one sentence that, once I applied it to my every day thinking and life, has allowed me to cultivate my faith. It reads: what if you are not being buried, what if you are being planted? Being overwhelmed can often feel as though you're drowning, or in my case being buried underneath pressure, responsibility, and anxiety. This quote gave me the small push that I needed to convert negative feelings into a much needed positive outlook. Small steps may feel heavy and impossible to take, however when you look back, you'll find that they are the steps that impacted your progress the most.
The biggest favor that you can do for yourself is find one thing, one little sliver of something positive or motivational. It can be cheesy quote, it can be a passage in the Bible, it can be your faith itself, or it can even be a special person in your life who has faith in you and your abilities. You are a unique and special individual. If bad luck is something that you cannot seem to shake, combat it with whatever gives you hope and strength. Your best may change from day to day, and you are human so mistakes will be made. However, those mistakes do not define you or how you choose to live your life. I know there are instances where you cannot change a certain feeling, no matter how hard you try. But faith is a powerful force, and whether it is belief in yourself or anything else, it is up to you to take charge no matter how unyielding the unfortunate circumstances seem. I have faith in you.
Sincerely,
A Fellow Discouraged Heart (Survivor)
