FYI: Shout out to The Whispers for inspiring this post title. Enjoy their song and their awesome footwork!

One thing I constantly have to work on is how I view myself. It feels like, since the beginning of time, I have been super critical about any and everything I have done. It’s almost second nature, for me, to want to compare myself to everyone and highlight all of my flaws. Over the years, I have made many attempts to fix this problem. While I can confidently say I’ve gotten better with it, I can also say that I’m still struggling.

That struggle was made afresh just recently at work. I’ve been working now for just over two months and really enjoying it. Despite that success, I couldn’t help but feel like I was still slacking. I didn’t know enough. I wasn’t asking the right questions. I didn’t know what to say to that higher up when they walked in the office. The list could go on. Not only was this a work problem, I was also dealing with it in my personal life. Where was my posse of friends that I assumed would surround me the second I moved out here? Was I budgeting correctly/saving enough? Did I eat well today? Why didn’t I exercise like I said I would? All of these thoughts, questions, and worries flooded my head, leaving me in a state of both sadness and frustration. I was frustrated that I was being hard on myself while at the same time frustrated that I seemingly wasn’t living up to this standard I had set for myself.

As I mentioned previously, this has been a struggle of mine for a long time. Throughout the struggle, I have gotten a plethora of advice from family, friends, and strangers. Though not always receptive to everything people said, one piece of advice really hit home. The advice (summed up eloquently by The Whispers): AND THE BEAT GOES ON.

I think we have to be open to receive words that truly impact us. Though I had heard this advice before (one way or another), hearing it just recently from my mom and then again from the sermon at church, made me realize I needed to pay attention to what was being said. The beat goes on means, to me, that life keeps going. We often get so caught up in our little bubble of disappointment that we don’t realize or don’t acknowledge that life doesn’t stop at that moment. We become so paralyzed in that one moment that we miss the opportunity to grow.

What’s really important, in times like these, is what we decide to do next. After we feel that disappointment, frustration, or lack of confidence, what steps are we taking to improve both our situation and our perspective? This is the growth part. It’s not an easy task and trust me, I don’t have all the answers for this one. I do, however, think a major key in all of this is to take an inventory of yourself, your feelings, and what steps you’re capable of making towards change. From there, act on those steps and go to God with the situation and your outlook on it. The combination of God’s help (His view of you and His vision for you), your prayers,  and your personal effort for change/improvement/peace with yourself, should lead to beautiful results. As are many things in life, this is an ongoing process that takes patience and faith to the work though. I’m continually in this process myself, but I know that in time comes victory. I pray that you’ll believe that and walk in that as well.

I hope this, if nothing else, let’s you know that you’re not alone. Adulting is REAL LIFE and it’s hard out here. Despite our numerable adulting woes, you are still doing great. We are all going to be okay. Remember that.

Stay gentle with yourself, twentysomethings!

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
-Psalm 42:11