A Shot In The Dark

I’ve been trying pretty hard lately to not show how stressed I’ve been in these past several weeks. Between a (pretty stressful) job change and some interpersonal issues, I’ve been struggling. 

But in the midst of the struggle, I’ve been waking up everyday and faking a smile for 8-10 hours a day, as long as I’m in front of other people. Sometimes we feel this incessant need to be or act perfect. We want everyone to think we have it all together. Throw social media in with that mix,  and you’d think that everyone around you has their life completely figured out. 

In reality, though, I have no plan. Who actually has it all together? Honestly, I don’t really know exactly the direction my life is headed right now. Will I continue my education? Will I succeed in my current job? Will I ever get back into the shape I was once in? I’m not really sure. I know a good amount of the people reading this may not be spiritual or religious, but I know that God, or the universe, or whatever you want to call it,  has already made a way for you and for me. Our path is already carved out and it’s set in stone. The trick is actually believing that to be true.

Right now, maybe you’re going through a similar season of questioning. Maybe you’re not sure where to go, or to how to best go about decision making in order to stay aligned with your bigger purpose. In these times, the best advice that I can give (other than praying about it), is to go towards what feels right. 

Okay, maybe you’re not super ‘intuitive’... But what I’m saying is, try to cling towards what makes your soul feel good. Or, if you’re in a season where there’s really not a whole lot that’s making you feel great and you find yourself internally or outwardly complaining about the situation, do your best to change that situation. 

Of course, I’m not exactly saying to change at the flip of a switch. Put some serious thought into the situation. Weight the pros and the cons. Think about your history with the dilemma, and think about where you ultimately see yourself in relation to it. 

Maybe you’ve been in a job for a couple of years now and your boss is out-of-this-world with their bossiness, their micromanaging, and lack of communication or clarity. Think about how far you’ve come within your job/role in the amount of time you’ve been there, and then weigh that out with where you anticipate yourself going within that company. If you’ve worked there for several years and have not yet been promoted - are you truly working as hard as you can to reach that goal? If so, is the promotion worth dealing with that boss for another ‘x’ amount of years?

These are just some ideas to think about when you’ve got to make a shot in the dark. Try not to focus on showing the world your smile, and truly just focus on yourself. Weigh the options as best you can. Try to think about what will fulfill your soul the most in the end. Set a timeline for yourself... maybe 3-6 months for the job example, maybe less for something else. And then, give it your all in that amount of time to change the situation. Then, if you gave your best and it didn’t succeed, do what you can to change the outcome.  

Only you can decide what kind of life you want to live. You’re ultimately the one who is in control of the job you’re in, the people you surround yourself with, how healthy/fit you are, or the relationship you’re in. 

At the end of the day, you have the final say in your life. So when you’re taking a shot in the dark, at least try not to aim completely blind. Give yourself grace for how far you’ve come, for the lessons you’ve learned, and for how far you will still go. 

You’ll get through this season. Just remember that you’re not alone. ❤️