There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.
-Michelle Obama
We’re often told by others when life is hard to focus on hope for a better future. This can definitely be helpful in getting us through hard times. However, sometimes we can take this to an extreme where we are continuously living in hope day in and day out. This can keep us in dysfunctional relationships, toxic work environments, and other relationships and situations that aren’t great for our overall wellness. From this perspective, it can be helpful to take stock of your life from a place of reality, and really looking at what’s working for you versus what’s maybe harmful to your well-being.
If this topic interests you, please read on for some short, quick information on: what living only in hope may look like, what living in reality may look like, and ending with self-care for when you’re in “survival mode.”
Living only in hope may look like:
- Being only future-focused
- Toxic positivity
- Silver-lining life
- Wanting others to change
- Not looking inward
- A coping strategy to get you through “survival mode”
- Wearing rose colored glasses
- Safe topics only
- Surfacy conversations
- Conditional love
What else would you add here?
What living in reality may look like:
- Working on yourself
- Deep conversations
- Being present-focused
- Exploring difficult topics
- Health from the inside out
- Being centered and grounded
- Loving people for who they are
- Thriving/having a good flow to your day
- Seeing clearly what’s right in front of you
- Feeling your feelings and letting yourself grieve
What else would you add to this list?
Self-care for when you’re in survival mode:
- Find a great therapist
- Connect with loved ones
- Take time to rest and recharge your body every day
- Join an in-person, local support group in your area or an online support group
- Talk to a friend or family member who really gets and understands you
- Drink a warm drink to warm you up from the inside out while helping you be more present
- Snuggle with a loved one, a pet, a soft blanket or a pillow
- Go outside and mindfully take in the beauty all around you
- Spend time with your pets
- Exercise, move your body, do some gentle stretches
What else helps you move from “survival mode” back into thriving in your own life?
If you’re currently living in hope as a coping strategy to keep you buffered from the hard parts of reality in your own life, know that you’re not alone. If you could use more help and support right now, please reach out to a doctor or therapist in your area. I’m sending lots of love and support your way as you work toward moving out of “survival mode” back into thriving in life.