Good evening. Stylish DTM here with another motivational blog. This is a subject that I know too much about and that is discouragement. Vanessa, thank you once again for speaking on this topic and others to help us feel encouraged.
Discouragement is a part of a life. A season in our lives that is almost like a rebuilding of sorts. It’s a blip on the radar of our life that can either help us grow or bring us down. How we handle that discouragement will shape our attitude towards things.
One of the most discouraging seasons of my life came following my graduation from Slippery Rock University beginning in 2006. That season lasted for quite a while.
I had my degrees from SRU and Community College. I thought I had it all together. But I learned the hard way that’s not how it works. I came out of college with my lone work experience being in Food Service working at Park Diner and part time at one of the dining halls on campus. I had no real job leads upon graduation. I was going into the real world with no clue what I was going to do with my life, and I was scared.
Job interviews with financial planners and life insurance companies went nowhere. I took civil service tests and once I held out for a state job, turning down part time work at UPS. That turned into an epic meltdown. Eventually I settled for a menial job at Kings Restaurant (after I turned down other menial work). I had to start somewhere but still that feeling of despair festered within me.
I felt like a failure and let those feelings of negativity take over me. Losing three loving family members, thinking of those I graduated with working in their field, and feeling ashamed of myself took its toll on me.
I had a brief reprieve the next year but by 2008, those feelings of discouragement returned. I couldn’t take working at Kings and didn’t care what it would take to get out of there. I actually gave thought to applying at California University of Pennsylvania to study something completely different. I almost forgot one of my biggest achievements, and that’s the fact that I graduated.
I am not a failure.
To fight discouragement, remember to celebrate yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back anytime you celebrate even the smallest achievements.
Take Patrick Star, for example. Spongebob tried to get him to handle even the simplest of tasks. You remember the episode. After so many tries he gets the jar open. The point is, cherish even the little victories.
Speak life and truth over your discouragement. You are not a failure. You may have messed up but you can’t let those mistakes define you.
Example I have here was that I did horrible on a test in one of my major courses at Slippery Rock. Everyone’s grades were bad and I let my bad grade consume me. Even my good friend was getting frustrated trying to calm me down.
Another time was when I thought I was going to fail one of my classes and not graduate. I let the thought of failing that class wreck my Friday night. I had a test that Monday and thought for sure that I was screwed. I got an A on that test when I got it back the next Friday.
For the longest time I was discouraged and didn’t want to accept my past for what it was. It took me several years after I graduated to realize that I was meant to be at Slippery Rock. I remember the day when it all came back to me. It was my friend’s memorial service. We attended the same church when I was a student at the Rock. After we were done and said our goodbyes, I took the time to walk around the campus and remember all the buildings where I had classes. I felt a weight being lifted off of me. It was a major turning point in my life.
I am not a failure.
Perhaps you’ve seen my mirror selfies that I posted on Facebook and in the blog. Limited resources. I do want to find someone who will snap my picture and do a legit photo shoot. I’m thinking Twin Lakes, Kennywood, Ligonier at the Diamond, or even Slippery Rock University. While most people liked my photos, I let a few who didn’t get to me. They gave me some choice words about what I was doing. They made me feel discouraged and embarrassed. I looked past those people and continued to do it regardless of those negative opinions.
Time to close off the blog by encouraging you to live your best life. Be your best you. ROCK out because you are worth it. When you’re feeling discouraged, don’t forget to laugh because laughter is the best medicine.
Don’t miss my blog on rejection tomorrow. I’ll go back in time for this one. Back to my Slippery Rock days.
Bye everyone. ❤️ you. 😘
Stylish 🍒 