Breaking Barriers within the Mind: Remembering Your Why
As Black women, we work hard day and night to uphold our values. This hard work is easy when life is all sunshine and rainbows, but when it's not, it can be overwhelming. When you feel like you have reached your limit, how can you possibly move forward?
What do you do when the weight of burdens traps you in a haze of negativity? The answer is to keep moving forward, but that is easier said than done. In times like these, it is essential to find a light in your situation.
Getting lost in the darkness is counterproductive. Just because you feel uncertain and fearful doesn't mean it has to be your reality. An article published by Harvard Health states, "When people look back at their lives, it is usually the most difficult challenges that gave them a new perspective and caused them to grow the most.”
Viewing your troubles as a learning experience is the first step in thinking more positively. You will find that changing your perspective is a great way to find peace despite the storm. Positive thinking is helpful, but negative feelings may still exist.
Be realistic with yourself and allow sadness to be present without letting it define who you are. Overcoming burnout is a hefty responsibility for one person. However, you don't have to do it alone.
Relying on comfort from your community is another excellent way to make these feelings more bearable. In an interview with TED Talk speaker Simon Sinek, he explains the importance of building strong relationships when your life is in "calm waters" so that when the storm comes, you will have a strong support system.
He even mentions how during the pandemic, he would call his friends when he needed to break down. In this interview, Simon further states that a person's "why" is what they give to the world. When overwhelmed with meeting all your goals, remembering what you already contribute is a great way to ground yourself in all the chaos.
To overcome these feelings of despair, you must look deep within yourself and remember why you are doing all this hard work in the first place. For some, it may be to make their family proud, to provide, or even to prove to yourself that your dreams are possible.
No matter what it may be, it is important to never lose sight of what means the most to you. Every day that you wake up is an opportunity to honor your "why," and burnout is only proof that you're one step closer to your dreams.
Sources
Staying positive during difficult times - Harvard Health
Simon Sinek: How to discover your "why" in difficult times | TED Talk
Julianna Brown is an upcoming sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is majoring in Mass Communication studies with a foundation in journalism and is an aspiring journalist.