This week, I’m returning to work after my wedding reception, after a week’s vacation, and trying to adjust to a new schedule. With this, it has been a struggle for me to make sure that I have everything that I need to done before I enter my car for my morning commute.
With this struggle, it has been challenging to make sure that I remember everything I need for my day of work: order my iced coffee, make sure my lunch is packed, and I do everything that I need to do prior to a day of work. Needless to say, sometimes things are in fact forgotten, or I’m running later than I used to. As students enter the classroom in December, I can not be the only one out there.
As I struggle with trying to get everything done, I can not help to be hard on myself as I try to check things off of the list or if I am running the slightest bit behind to getting on the road. This varies by getting mad at myself as I forget to grab one thing for my lunch or even being too hard on myself if I am the slightest bit late out the door. However, as a human being who does not enjoy change, I lack the ability to just give myself some grace as I acclimate to new routines.
Growing up, I have learned to pick at myself with a fine tooth comb for the slightest imperfection, something that has stayed with me as I grew up. This is also something that I am trying to unlearn in therapy — a challenge if you will, as unlearning something is ten times harder than learning.
Allowing someone grace is crucial to supplementing positive self-talk. In every season of life, there are growing pains for adjustment, whether it may be adjusting to a new job/home, adjusting to the school year, or a new baby. When I brought Lucy home for the first time, there were some tough periods of adjustment. However, I got through it.
Instead of being hard on myself for struggling, I am instead working on owning it. Owning the fact that I may forget something. Owning the fact that I may not be out the door before a time that I would like to, but instead accepting that I still will be on time with work.
But an adjustment period is not the only example of when you should allow yourself some grace. There are some periods of life that are harder than others and just waking up to go to work and basic existence is a flat-out struggle. These are the times when we’re just focusing on getting through the day — nothing extra. Therefore, it’s okay to own the struggle and not be hard on yourself.
Whether you’re settling into a new routine or just trying to get through the week, just give yourself some grace.
thenutmegmillennial.com 