VICTORY
IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE
FOR THE PERSON
WHO REFUSES TO STOP
FIGHTING
(Napoleon Hill)
I sometimes get very tired of "fighting" - fighting to stay positive, to eat right and exercise, to be patient, to keep my temper, to be "nice." Fighting to not be so selfish and ornery and moody, to not let fear and anxiety choke me, to not let the yearning for approval and encouragement and respect from people who refuse to give it suffocate my passion and creativity.
I. Am. Tired.
And so I will stop. I will stop fighting.
I will stop fighting myself.
I will stop wrestling every negative or mean thought that comes into my head. I will stop battling my desire for chocolate and cheese, and I'll let that craving win once in awhile. No more beating myself up for everything that is "wrong" with me. I will stop scolding myself for being selfish. No more bowing to guilt, to letting others make me feel bad or not "enough."
I think one of the greatest victories we can achieve is becoming our best selves, our true selves. How in the world are we going to manage that if we're constantly at odds with, and within, ourselves? I don't want to be my own worst enemy.
So, instead of fighting ourselves, let's accept ourselves in all our messy glory. Let's continue to challenge ourselves - to grow, to learn, to improve - but let's do it with an internal attitude of camaraderie, of teamwork. There are enough bullies out in the world; we don't need one inside of us. Let's be our own best friend instead.
Wise words indeed. Although easier said than done I find...
ReplyDeleteDefinitely easier said than done, but I found myself needing a bit of a pep talk lately. :)
DeleteSometimes the fight we have with ourself is the hardest fight indeed. I wish I had realized this sooner. Thank you for always making us think with your posts :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I had realized it sooner, too.
DeleteAnd you're welcome, although sometimes I think I should include a strong cup of coffee with some of these Monday posts. :)
I like the idea of turning the fight into a challenge. I'm always fighting anxiety and fear but maybe reframing it into a challenge to grow from it will work. Nothing else has LOL.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, Madeline.
I hear you, Julie! :) Good luck with reframing the fight into a challenge.
DeleteHave a great week, too!
Excellent advice! We are our own worst enemies.
ReplyDeleteIt boggles my mind how we can be so mean to ourselves sometimes, way meaner than we'd be to anyone else….
DeleteAfter a pretty rough weekend, I have to say that I'm about worn out from the fight. Thanks for your positive words. They couldn't have come at a better time.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Dana. And I've had those times, too, when I am so worn out from fighting with myself that I have no energy left for other things. Sad, but true.
DeleteAn excellent philosophy and goal. I'm definitely my own worst enemy.
ReplyDeleteIt is an excellent goal - I'm just not sure I can achieve it…. I'll give it a shot though. :)
DeleteGreat post. It sounds like a little speech I gave myself last Thursday.
ReplyDeleteI hope your speech worked! :)
DeleteI've learned I can't wait for someone to give me the pep talk I need. I know the words I want to hear, and I just have to know how to say them to myself.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the words in my head be a pep talk and not the drivel they usually are.
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