The Struggle Never Stops…
I'd be lying if I said 2023 has been easy so far - not that I expected it to be easy or every day to be a success. I started the year with amazing plans to meet my goals. I want to build the Noble Alpha platform by creating monthly blog posts, creating a social media presence and opening the online store. I want to work to hit my next set of weight loss and financial goals. I have been able to meet or even exceed some goals, like increasing my jiu jitsu training and books read. I have found it challenging to celebrate those wins when there are many goals that haven't been met.
It Will Weigh on You - Prepare Yourself.
I have rediscovered the weight of my failures, on many levels. Each failure had ability to affect my mood. These failures often have a cascading effect on my interactions with other people. They can also have an effect on my general frame of mind. A failure can even influence my choices, which are not inline with other goals.
I hate to make this admission, but I can be an emotional eater - especially when it comes to stressful situations. I still find myself craving "x" which tends to be something very heavy in sugar or starch content. The weight of the failure increases as I sit and consume "x", I feel guilt. The guilt increases more because I know I am doing something that is detrimental to one of my other goals. As the feelings of guilt and failure increases, the cascade continues…
As an example, it has been a heavy feeling of guilt and shame that I haven't been writing and posting on a regular basis. At times, I have tried to convince myself that no one reads your little blog so why bother?.
Recognition
One of the first strategies I've used is to recognize the beginning of the cascade. Once I am able to recognize what is happening, I can start by embracing the weight. It doesn't make it any lighter, but in my case once I have embraced the burden I can begin to ask questions. Moreover, I can delve a little deeper into the ultimate source of what I'm feeling. This is where real change comes from - knowing the TRUE source of your stress and formulating a plan to make forward progress to combat it.
Distraction Isn't a Solution...
I heard over the years about 'distracting' yourself in these moments, to reset your mindset. My experience is that the relief is very short-lived. To gain long-lasting relief from your burden you must stare it in the face. Only then can you see your burden for what it is, and then design a plan to either conquer it, or begin to learn to live with it. Unfortunately not all burdens can be conquered. Only you will be able to make that determination, Noble Alpha.
Final Note : If you are in need of a 'next read' recommendation, here is the link to the book I’m currently reading : Prisoners of the Castle by Ben MacIntyre.