Of course, there are an increasing number of things that we are actually helpless to do anything about. Climate change, wars, even politics seem beyond anyone's control.
And then what about getting downsized right out of your job, or facing stony defiance from your own teenager, or the shocking inflation in costs for health insurance? Seems like nothing you do or say matters there, either.
But the real knockout is when it seems as though you have no control over your own self, either. Oh, you manage okay, and nobody notices anything. But you fear, deep inside, that you are truly incapable and inadequate. You have a belief that nothing will change this. Your negative thoughts and habits dominate your outlook, and severely diminish your confidence.
It's a crock, but you've become dependent on the lifestyle: you have a routine, you're used to it, you don't want to change.
And besides, when you do decide to make a change, and work really hard at it, you always backslide and end up where you started, or worse.
You think, “Obviously I’m a failure.”
Okay, you know I'm going to object to such a line of thinking. Not because it's "bad" or "wrong" but because of something I've experienced.
See, here's the thing. If you go all the way with that line of thought, and accept that you are a failure, and go as deep as you can go into that, then what happens is … you begin to succeed again.
You can't help yourself. As long as you're alive, you will be creating. And accepting failure is the opposite of creativity.
Now look, I know you think you are not a creative person (that's part of your whole failure image). But tell me this, if you are starving, will you find food? If you're cold, will you build a fire? If you're lonely, will you make love? If so, you are creative.
You find solutions. You express as only you can. You progress whether you want to or not. You are helpless to avoid moving, whatever direction you take. You begin to achieve goals.
Today, perhaps, you feel weak, disenfranchised. Tomorrow will bring better energy. Let time and your journal show the way.
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