Recognize when you're becoming discouraged but don't lose faith

Putting a stop to those negative thoughts that are constantly popping into our minds is sometimes difficult, but it's critical that we get to a place where we can easily recognize when that's happening and then start changing our mindset. I've been on this rollercoaster my entire life (as I'm sure most have), but as I've gotten older and, specifically, since I started my mindfulness journey, I've been recognizing it happening more often. And, unfortunately, I think social media has played a big role in how quickly I become discouraged. I place so much importance on "likes" and comments. I didn't care as much before I started blogging, but now it's like I check social media every five seconds after I post something...just waiting for the "likes" to come in. I've also found that I'm becoming pretty annoying to myself...

Social media has caused us to place such high importance on others liking or approving our content...on liking or approving what goes on in our daily lives (or the lives we put out there on social media). It's so easy to become discouraged when you put something out there that you think is going to draw all this attention and then it comes up completely flat. You then start to fall down the rabbit hole of..."what am I doing wrong?"..."do people not like me?"..."I'm never going to become anything"..."I'm never going to be able to make this into a career"..."people don't care what I have to say"..."no one believes in me"...etc. It's never-ending, right? And just now, reading those things back...it makes me so sad to think that those thoughts actually run through my mind.

Unfortunately, it's very difficult, if not impossible, to completely stop those negative thoughts from ever entering our minds. I think, though, that we can come close to that if we start to trust in God, the universe, the spirit, etc. We have to trust that there is a plan for each and every one of us. Just because you may not be getting direct, visible engagement, doesn't mean people aren't seeing what you're putting out there. It doesn't mean people aren't getting something positive from what you have to say. So many women on my LimeLife team have made it a point to say...just continue what you're doing and it will happen. People ARE watching and you ARE making a positive impact in someone's life. You just have to be patient and TRUST that things are going to happen the way they're supposed to.

It was kind of funny...

I was struggling with this very issue earlier this week and feeling pretty down about the engagement I was getting, or lack thereof. And then, what do you know? One of my LimeLife sisters brought up the exact topic in one of our groups the next day. She said exactly what I mentioned before...that you have to trust in your purpose and know that people are watching you and it WILL happen. Give it time and you're going to change so many lives for good.

It's crazy how those things happen, isn't it? How you can be struggling with something so much and then all of a sudden God puts a message into your life to help you out of your struggle. It's so easy to lose faith, but when start to feel ourselves headed in that direction, we have to turn back towards why we started doing it to begin with. Believe in yourself, believe in your message. And when you're struggling and finding it hard to believe, turn to God, your loved ones and those in your circle. Chances are, someone within that community is either going to be struggling with the exact same thing and/or have some incredible advice/encouragement to share with you.

Don't give up. Don't lose faith. Keep pushing. Your message IS important.

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