Embrace the Mess
Written by Julie Weinstein
Remember when you were little and playing with blocks or legos building a tower of some kind and all of a sudden it would all come crashing down and you were devastated? It was like your whole world just fell apart and there was nothing that could possibly change that.
We’re not born knowing how to handle tough situations. We don’t automatically know what it’s like to deal with the messy moments in life. We have to learn as we go, and those ‘blocks’ only become bigger and more real as life goes on and we get older.
Put simply, life is messy. And just when you think you have it all figured out, something happens that makes you realize you don’t.
However, if you have the right outlook and perspective on this wild ride called life, the mess doesn’t have to be such a bad thing. In fact, you can come to find out that the mess and happiness go hand in hand.
You might come to find out that even in your lowest and darkest of moments there’s still something (more than one thing) to be happy about and feel grateful for. You might even learn something about yourself that you wouldn’t have otherwise. The key is to embrace that ‘mess.’
3 Ways to Embrace the Mess
1. Remember that our time is finite
Not to get all morbid on you, but in an effort to help put things into perspective, it’s important to remember that we’re not going to be around forever. Life is short and it’s so incredibly necessary to savor and cherish and find the best in every single moment. Wake up and make the best of every day, even on the days when it’s the last thing you want to do.
2. Find yourself a great support system
Because it’s pretty much inevitable that those messier times will appear throughout life, you want to have a good system in place when those times show their face. And that system, first and foremost, should include people you know you can turn to and lean on when the going gets rough. Whether family, friends, or both, find those people who love you no matter what and don’t let them go. (And, of course, it’s important to be there for those people when they’re going through less than ideal times, too).
3. Don’t forget to smile and laugh often
Did you know that smiling can lead you to happiness? Seriously. The simple act of smiling can actually cause you to feel happier and more joyful. Furthermore, smiling at someone else can instantly lift another person’s mood. It’s a win-win, really. And of course laughing is everything. What is better than laughing until your stomach hurts? After a hard core laugh session, you can’t help but feel happier…even in the darker moments.
In Closing
While life is totally messy and complicated, it’s also exciting and beautiful and incredible if you ask me. Don’t forget that when you’re going through a rough patch. Embrace the mess whole heartedly and you might just realize it’s not so bad after all! As well, if you want to download a free printable to remind yourself to embrace the mess, you can do so here.
Have a great day!