Itz Holistically Wholesome

It is always much easier to talk about the good things happening in our lives. Sometimes it terrifies us to let others know things are not going well, so we make sure that on the outside, everything looks lovely, but inside, it is falling apart. Besides, no one else seems to be going through anything but you or me. For a while, I have been rocking my brain to figure out how important it is to be truthful and to what extent. Would people want to hear the not-so-glorious side of life that happens every day to someone somewhere in the world, or they prefer to believe in a fantasy or lie? While I am about upliftment and positivity, the fact remains that things are not always great, and it is okay to say so. 

So here goes, times are hard; well, maybe it is not a shared sentiment for everyone, but in my neck of the woods, things are not always easy as they used to be, and it seems that the best thing to do is to brace ourselves for even more challenging times. Unfortunately, I am not from the upper end of the financial ladder, and as such, I know what it means to have enough and to have very little. The blessing about being where I am is that I could deal with either situation as it arose. The truth is that nothing is absolute, so today, you may have all that you think you need, and life is incredible then tomorrow you are without. 

What bothers me the most is the unwritten rule, especially regarding social media, that you must let others believe everything is always fine. Everyone has a perfect life, from relationships, finances, home, and job—even flawless physical features. But yesterday, I, on the other hand, argued with my hubby for forgetting to put out the garbage or my children for making such a mess of our home. I even got a call reminding me that my student loan payment was past due. Not to mention that I have a bit of eczema on my hand and a few unwelcome pimples and blemishes on my face. Even today, I wondered if blogging makes sense since only a few people took the time to read my post, but here I am anyways because I love doing it. What’s going on here? Is it just me?

To make it worst, someone going through a rough patch may look on and feel like they are the only ones suffering. And this is why being truthful and transparent about life, especially when we are in a position to influence others, is essential. Indeed life is sometimes beautiful, and of course, we must stay in the fight, hold our heads high and keep going. But on the other hand, life can sometimes be ruthless, and that’s the reality. And since it can be so, it is okay to make it known by being truthful and open that you or I may face difficulties at some point in life. 

In the real world, things will not always be great. You will have high and low moments. For example, relationships fail, husband and wife will quarrel or disagree, people get sick, people lose their jobs, or are unemployed because they cannot find a job, resulting in their inability to pay their bills or put food on the table. Others may lose their home, loved ones, and so forth. And you or I may be doing everything right and still find ourselves in a not-so-favorable space. And though our struggles may not be the same, they are struggles regardless.

So here is how to cope when times are hard:

1. Please do not blame yourself: It is easy to feel like you have been making bad choices after bad choices, and that is the reason you are not seeing the results you want. It could very be that you are doing your best, but things just do not work out. Besides, the blame game gets us nowhere so be easy on yourself.
2. Please do not compare yourself to others: I cannot begin to tell you how dangerous it is to compare yourself; this will send you to an even darker place you do not need to be in. Remember people will show you what they want you to see and believe and it may not always be the real thing. And even if someone is truly doing fantastic, be happy for them and let it inspire you to keep working for what you want.
3. Social Media is not always honest: Social media can be a blessing or a curse. Not everything that glitters is gold. Do not get caught up glamor, it is not always so. Be mindful of the things you spend a considerable amount of time viewing. If it makes you have negative feelings about yourself then avoid it. Do not ever tempt yourself to hang your hat where you cannot reach. Stay in your lane and focus on you. also, find authentic content that will uplift, motivate and teach you meaningful things. 
4. Believe that things will improve- this may seem cliche, but things will improve with time, so do not give up on your goals. Keep pushing.
5. Trust in God – Many will tell you there is no God, but this is untrue. He is real and can do exceedingly great things in your life. When I start my day with a prayer and study, things go well, and I can better cope. My day is miserable, and feels out of control whenever I fail to do this. The word of God will empower and strengthen you, especially in the most challenging times. We cannot be disconnected from our source and fully maximize, so draw close to Him and allow Him to direct your life.

Finally, we all go through ups and down, and while we would like top be on top all the time, this is not the case. So be content with where you are and continue to work towards making life better for yourself in a good and humble way.