Sometimes, life is little more than a series of ups and downs, each high and low point lending perspective to the other and defining the difference between what it feels like to be both deliriously happy and irrevocably sad. As humans navigating through the uncertainties of experience, we can be sure that we’ll never feel either emotion forever, but when tragedy strikes, we may feel as though one extreme is a little more dominant than the other.
If you’re trudging your way through a particularly trying crisis, you need to take the time to remind yourself of a few undeniable truths.
Now, more than ever, you need to be aware that…
You’re Valuable
You have people who love you, friends on which you can rely, and a support system that’s just waiting to help you pick up the pieces. Lean on the people who matter, because right now, they’re trying their very best to be there for you. They might not always know how to show it (and there’s a chance they’re grieving as well), but the people who love you want to help you through your tragedy.
Beyond that, it’s important to note that in the grand scheme of things, we all have a role to play. Even when you feel insignificant and small, you’re still part of this world, and therefore, very valuable.
You’re Strong
Stop thinking that life has it out for you, or that this crisis or the next will be your downfall. There will always be tragedy–that’s just part of life, and you’re going to deal with a lot more of it before the end. People will die, jobs will be lost, money will be tight, identities will be questioned, and you’ll be there fighting your way through every single one of them. Life has prepared you for heartache, so don’t sell yourself short. You can make it through this because you know, deep down, you’re strong enough to do it.
Your Grief is Your Own
Absolutely everyone grieves differently, and no one has any right to say that the way you feel about your crisis is any more or less “right” than the way they dealt with theirs. People don’t like to see those they care about spiraling through depression, and often, well-intended advice comes off as callous and unsympathetic. If someone is telling you that it’s time for you to move on and get over it, it’s because advice like that probably helped them once upon a time. They likely aren’t being malicious, but regardless of their intent, you don’t actually have to listen. The way you deal with your own personal tragedies is your business–don’t let anyone else’s opinions on the matter keep you from grieving the way you see fit.
This Will End
Eventually, the pain will being to subside and life will inch back toward normalcy. You won’t feel this way forever. With time, you’ll learn to put this crisis into perspective, and move on as best you can. It might not happen tomorrow, or week from now, or even this year, but someday, you will feel better than this.