Reasons Not to Give Up!! List Yours
(Heads up that this could be a bit of a heavy topic, but it’s a positive one, so please do read on!)
Let’s be real - life’s hard! One second you’ll be coasting, and then suddenly you’re dropping through a trap door you didn’t even know was there. Circumstances come up beyond our control and sometimes you just feel hopeless.
A lovely member here asked me for a list of my reasons to keep going when things get really hard and you just wanna give up, so here’s what soothes, motivates, and inspires me:
- Remembering where I’ve been. I reflect on the things I have survived. I’ve reminded myself, “you’ve been through worse. You have. And you are here. You can do this, too.”
- The things I haven’t done yet. What do I still wish to do? To see? To learn? My story isn’t over, and I know there are still things out there, somewhere, that is worth waiting for.
- My purpose. We all have one. You do too. You may not have found it yet, but it’s on your path. Just keep walking. And if it helps you feel any better about the wait, I didn’t trip over mine until I hit my 30s.
And the fun stuff!
- My bird - I have to be here for him, after all, and my pets have always grounded me when I felt like I could just let everything else go. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for your pet!
- Food! Comfort food! The joy of trying new food!
- Your favorite show! You’ve got to be here to see if it gets a reboot, of if your favorite movie gets a sequel.
- The smell of freshly cut grass
- Cozy nights sleeping to the sound of rain
- Staycations
- Rainbows
- Crisp weather, turning leaves, big sweaters, and warm drinks
- Stargazing, beach days, and sitting by the fire
- Finding people with who you can share life’s journey with
- Random acts of kindness
- …and so much more
I’ve seen countless ups and downs in my own life, and every challenge and every pitfall has ultimately shaped me into who I am today. If you’re reading this in the midst of a struggle of your own, please have heart and know that you couldn’t be in a better place than here on 7 Cups. You’re never alone.
What’s your list look like? If you don’t have one, why not start by thinking up one thing that makes you want to keep trying and share it here in the replies.
@Heather225 Walk on through the storm, hold your head up high. Do not be afraid of the dark. Walk on through the storm. Walk on!! Walk on!! through the night. Walk on, with hope in your heart, may your days be marry and bright. Walk on!! Walk on!! Walk on!!, with hope in your heart. And you will never, never, never, never, ever Walk Alone.-Author not known. I did the best I could to remember, that song. Sorry, if some of the words are out of place. I have some memory issues, due to having a learning disability. I hope those words encourage you, H, when you have a hard day, as a community director, or when things get a little rough, it is humbling to know, that you are truly not alone. Those, words have helped me, when things get a little rough.
@calmMango9611
Friend. I think this song often is being song at footballmatches:
"When you walk through the storm, hold you head up high and don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of the life.
Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone."
A good thing to think about. Thank you for the post H
I realize that whenever I find life to be very challenging is a time when I am living in the future or the past. But the reality is all that exists is today, there is no predicting the future nor any point in obsessing over the past.
I like to remind myself of these quotes and they help me stay grounded:
“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing.”
“The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately.”
– Seneca
“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Another helpful technique I found is to look around you and find things you are grateful for. Too often we neglect what we have and glorify what we do not have. Think of the things you once wanted and now you have! That is one of the major reasons to not give up in my opinion, direct proof that it gets better!
What an inspirational post and if we take the time to look around, we are likely to find something we are grateful for. It might be something very small or something more meaningful to you.
Personally, when I have gone through a difficult time, what gets me through is knowing how far I have come and what I have overcome before. The knowledge of knowing I've gone through tough times and weathered the storm has shown me that I do have the strength and resilience to make it just one more moment. Those moments then add up and before I know it, I've come out the other side.
Sometimes we fall, sometimes we feel hopeless and feel that we've had enough but then in another moment we overcome challenges and take small steps forward. In one moment you can experience your most difficult moment and then suddenly you can experience great joy because life is continuously changing. Just like @Heather225 has said, you are never alone at 7 Cups.
@LisaMeighanMScGMBPsS So very true Lisa. Thank you so very much, for sharing your thoughts and insights. Thank you for letting us know, that you as a therapist sometimes struggle. There are those, for what ever reason, do not think, that those who do the helping and the supporting, do not struggle, which could not be more further from the truth. We all struggle, we something during our life time, after all, we are all human beings. As such, whether, we admit it or not, we are all bound to struggle, with something, during our lifetime. Thank you for keep it real, and telling the truth. I wish more therapists could be like you, Lisa.
@calmMango9611
Thank you for such kind and wise words calmMango! We do indeed all struggle and it's part of being a human sadly, but I truly do believe we grow from those struggles if we just listen to what it is telling us. 🌻
Do not give up. Do the incy wincy spider did not give up only went back up.
Thanks and I am just a click away.Xx
@Heather225 my life seems to be meaningless now i see no reason of not giving up sadly
@Rubirubishuyshsst
Hey, I've felt similarly before. if you need someone to talk to, feel free to reach out to me!
My kids.
end of list
tried to make a list like that before - gave up - life sucks - gotta make life bearable for my children
@Heather225
thank you so much for making this<3
Well, for me its the fact that I've already survived so much, (diabetes, epilepsy, heart surgery etc.) It would seem almost crazy for me to give up when I've came so far.
@Heather225
my reasons to not give up are my parents, my family and my friends!!! also, video games and music!!!
one more reason - my youngest sister gave birth this morning to a baby girl, i am an uncle plus one!
live is beautiful and life is a gift from God, so hang in there everyone! - NewYorker11
@Heather225 I have a candle that I light to give me positive energy to make my depression get better and it smells good. and I light it when i want to read a book or magazine, doing yoga or a dance workout or if I feel unsafe in myself. So that's a start for myself for what I do for self care now a days.
@compassionateMoon4546
i absolutely love this idea. what does it smell like?
@Heather225 It has botanical scents to it
