Read this if your life feels like it's falling apart.
(*It's probably not)
What I’ve noticed over the years of life’s ups and downs is that change doesn’t exist in silos. Instead, when real change is happening it often happens in all directions; all at once.
How many times has something happened to you, (good or bad) and then more of the same shit starts happening but in other areas? It’s like a crazy universal domino effect.
I’m looking forward to when I am able to share all of the exciting good stuff coming to me (it’s still pending). But today’s newsletter is for those of us who are DOWN BAD! You know; when you feel like everything is going wrong at the same time, and you feel like life has just slapped you in the face.
So, if that’s you; Hi, I’m writing this for you!
I’ll be honest, I’m also writing this for me. Because at the moment life does feel a little hard. I have a few thoughts that have kept me afloat during this tumultuous time (full-on existential crisis) and I’m going to share them. I’m hoping these words will feel like a virtual hug. And I’m telling you now: you will be okay.
This is what I’m holding on to:
✤ The universe is SO BIG ✤
When it feels like everything is the end of the world, it’s important to remind yourself of just how BIG the universe is. So much bigger than we can ever fathom. Our lives (and this particular chapter!!) is such a tiny, minuscule part of it.
We are so small compared to the vastness around us, and it’s easy to forget that when we get caught up in the day-to-day of our lives. I’ll always remember this amazing quote that did the rounds on Tumblr back in 2010:
―Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space.
Like, really, in the grand scheme of life, there’s so much more than what is happening to you right now.
We are so lucky to be here (it’s honestly quite inconceivable when you think about it). The chances of being born are 1 in 400 trillion. Let that settle in.
Without sounding too woo-woo, I truly believe if you are lucky enough to be here, you’re here for a reason. And that reason is SO much greater than all the little disasters that may be happening to you at the moment.
I took my grandma to lunch yesterday and she told me that we are all fallen angels. My initial reaction is to assume she’s starting to lose her marbles, but when I really thought about it on the train ride home, I think I kind of get it.
✤ You can’t have the light without the dark ✤
The ebb and flow of life is real. We see it everywhere, all the time. You can’t have the day without the night. The flowers need the rain to grow and bloom. The calm that comes after the storm. I mean its endless.
Unite, Untie.
So, when we begin to except the fact that you need the sadness to feel the joy, it becomes a lot more exciting sitting in this space.
I promise it won’t be like this forever, but it is necessary. It’s what keeps us human. The pain gives us the ability to appreciate when life is good. If we were happy all the time, the novelty would wear off; and we would start getting bored. It just wouldn’t be true happiness anymore.
So just know, if you’re in the shadows at the moment. The sun will rise, it always does. That’s just what happens. And god it will feel good after this.
✤ Will it matter in ten year’s time? ✤
I like to hold onto this question. I ask myself it a lot. I find it really helps to put things into perspective when it feels like a big deal. Is that meeting your dreading next week really going to matter in ten year’s time? I can pretty much guarantee it’s not. You got fired? Ten years from now you’ll be settled in another job. Your breakup? Yeah, you won’t be crying about that in ten years.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to everything. But, I’d say it holds true most of the time, nearly every instance.
Even, bigger fuck up’s like when I was in court getting my licence revoked for drink driving - that was just over ten years ago. I thought that was the end of the world for me. I thought I would never get a good job, and I thought it WOULD matter in ten year’s time. It didn’t. (instead; it was a lesson I was grateful for in the end)
That’s just to say, sometimes even the things that feel like they could matter in ten years… still probably won’t.
✤ You have survived all the bad days before this ✤
In the end, if you’re here reading this - then you’ve managed to get through all of your bad days. You have made it through whatever life has thrown at you to be here. Think how many moments or chapters you’ve had in the past that have been less than ideal. You’ve got through all of them. You’re still standing.
So, I just wanted to make it crystal clear, in case you forgot (I did for a second): you are more resilient than you realise, and you will absolutely get through this.
Let’s be honest, when it rains it pours. That’s okay, but if it’s raining on you right now, the sun will come out eventually (promise).
Love you.
x
Such a good read, definitely needed to hear some of this after a crazy day!