Remind yourself of all that you have been through
There are moments when your heart rate is rising faster than the inflation in a 3 world country. Your body feels as described by Eminem in that song about spaghetti. Your vision is bouncing between clear and blurry like a camera seeking focus. And global warming feels exceptionally real as local floods intensify on your body. The only thought in your mind is … wait for it … I can’t do this, this is a mistake. So you don’t give the speech, apply for the job, write the paper and so on. News flash this isn’t the first time you have experienced all this, heck not even the second or third. Moments like this where our minds are overwhelmed with doubt and bodies fold are not that far in between. We are just proficient at forgetting hurdles right after crossing them. Who remembers that one test you lost hairs to after passing? Yes, some people but not all( relax the example didn’t come easy and this was all I had).
We usually forget the challenges we overcame once we have overcome them. It is like clearing out your web history or cookies but every 10 min. There is only one major drawback to this, which is if you don’t remind yourself of what or where you have been, how will you have the confidence to take on new challenges. Let’s get personal here. listen (I mean, read carefully). Remember the moments when you had nothing but instant noodles for a month, the moments when you worked your butt off to pay for school cause you knew very well that no one was coming to rescue you. The countless times when you gave even when it was the last you had, all-nighters and mid-night runs. The moments where you gave up on the inside but kept going on the outside ( This is gold, it has to be acknowledged don’t be jealous). You knew them intimately, you were a legend.
Take the time to remind yourself of what you have been through. It doesn’t have to be a whole day, just 5 minutes in a week. Looking back at how far you have come. And whatever bears you’re facing now will pale in comparison to the dragons you have already slain. That process of reflection and contemplation on the accolades you have attained will be the extra wind you need to fly over today’s challenge or tomorrow’s and so on, you get the idea.
