A popular quote was recently circulating on social media: “If you wait until you feel better to start living, you might be waiting forever. Go live your life. Do it sad, do it anxious, do it uncertain. Because healing doesn’t always come before the experience. Sometimes the experience is what heals you.” I heard a similar sentiment once: “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”
These quotes are such helpful reminders that we don’t have wait to take action until everything feels okay. In another example, it means that we can do really difficult things even if we are scared. We can feel anxious *and* still proceed. If we waited until we were no longer scared to try something, we might not ever try anything.
These reflections aren’t really about “being positive” or the “don’t worry, be happy” trend that pop psychology has often promoted. What appeals so much about these two quotes above is the acceptance they ask of us. They point out that “happiness” is not some point we arrive at when we have solved all the problems or issues. On that note, we might consider thinking of happiness as a verb, a process, or as actions that depend on us, rather than some state we want to reach. It also calls to mind the notion that “the inbox will always be full, there will always be more on the way. Live your life anyway.”
Life is always a mix. There will always be the good with the difficult. Sometimes in the same day, hour, or breath. And that’s okay. In fact, it seems like wellbeing depends on that. Accepting that there will always be loss, death, struggle, failure, hurt, and pain can allow us to be present and appreciate those times when we feel the beauty of life, success, growth, and reward. Living a full life means we will have to taste it all.
Here’s to your good health!
It’s okay not to feel okay
If you or someone you know has been struggling with their emotions, behaviors, or substance use please reach out to us. We can help you find appropriate tools and services that could help you overcome obstacles in your life. We are here for you. Please contact the Southern Ute Behavioral Health Division at 970-563-5700 for more information or to set up an appointment to see a counselor or therapist.
Reminder: If you need to talk to someone, please reach out.
And for those interested in opioid use education, harm reduction, and support, please contact us for quick Naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips. We can schedule individual, family, or friends training times at our Southern Ute Behavioral Health Building, or we can come to you, and the training is around 30 minutes. Please call us at 970-563-5700 to set up a training appointment.