I planned to go to the gym today. I joined last week, in the hope it may do me some good. However, I only got as far as getting up, showering and dressing. Once dressed, I felt defeated by the enormity of the rest of the steps needed to complete a gym session and could go no further. To combat the feelings of failure, I need to remind myself, especially under the current circumstances, that success is relative.
The Mountain Is Too Big To Climb Today
I was excited to restart the gym, and on getting into bed last night, I had positive feelings about it. However, I hardly slept last night, and I woke feeling dreadful. On top of feeling awful, it’s chucking it down with rain and its Eastbourne’s half marathon, which means the buses are changed and diverted. The process of getting to the gym therefore, is a mountain I am not able to climb today.
My negative self-talk is off the scale at the moment, and I continually have to steer my brain away from negative thoughts.
It would be easy to now spiral downwards into guilt and shame for not managing to get out. My negative self-talk is off the scale at the moment and has been, understandably, since mum passed away. I continually have to steer my brain away from negative thoughts and self depreciation. A missed gym session means I have to step up the mindfulness around my thoughts because my inner critic now thinks it has every right to tell me that I am a failure.
Success Is Relative
At times like this I have to stop to take a deep breath and remind myself that success is relative. Success doesn’t always mean achieving the thing you intended. Often, success means doing the best you can, then
Reframing Success When You Have Mental Health Challenges
I can look at this picture and choose to see either a failure or a brave, determined man who got up and got dressed despite spending most of the night awake and in tears. I am grieving, I am not sleeping, and I am exhausted. On top of this, I’m in recovery. It is hard work trying to avoid using mums death as an excuse to get so drunk that I never sober up again. Staying clean and sober is no easy task when you are grieving.
Today therefore, I am reminding myself that success is relative, and my best is always good enough.
I have so much to deal with, and yet  I joined a gym, I got up, I had a shower, I got dressed, and I had breakfast. That is far from a failure. So, rather than letting this day spiral out of control I shall use the restart tool and draw a line under this mornings events. As for the gym, tomorrow is another day. Right now, a well-earned duvet day on the sofa is calling.
[…] Evaluate your well-being on a daily basis, it may take a while to re-balance after a spike in stress. Take your time and don’t rush back to a busy life, makes sure you are back to being as balanced as you can be first. Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can and that your best is good enough. […]
Evening,
I think your mum would be very proud of you for trying the best that you can when you are doing the best for you, I can relate to you lr grief in relation to your mum. Im always here if you need a chat! Take one day at a time, go at your own pace!
You are so kind, thank you so much. I am trying very hard to just allow myself to feel whatever comes up in any moment and take it an hour at a time. Im just grateful I am in recovery!
I hope you’re feeling a bit better now. I totally relate to what you’re saying! It’s so easy to judge ourselves when we don’t succeed, but kindness is much more helpful.
It is a better day today, thank you. And yes, It is so much easier to be judgemental of oneself rather than be kind, why do we do that!