Overcoming Tough Days: A Path to Resilience

Have you ever woken up with the weight of the world on your shoulders?

I remember, waking up extremely groggy one gloomy morning, challenged by the thought of getting on with my day. It felt as if someone had thrown a heavy cloak upon me, and I could barely breathe. 

The warmth of the sun felt like a distant memory, the lightness of being eluding me, while I tried to tackle my tasks, that suddenly felt like insurmountable walls, standing between me and my day! I knew it was  going to be one tough day, that was going to test me through and through—a test that would assess the very fibre of my resilience!

The Unrelenting To-Do List was glaring at me, with every item a mocking reminder of all the things I was yet to accomplish—and the pressure only mounting with each passing hour! The inner critic continued to nag me, magnifying every perceived flaw and whispering the insidious “what ifs.” I could definitely do without those, but that was not to be. It was the day when a single trigger had the potential to send me spiraling down a wave of emotions, leaving me drained and very raw.

So, what could I possibly do? 

The first thing was to acknowledge that I was not feeling okay. I refrained from brushing aside the heaviness—reminding myself it’s important to admit that we all have those days when it’s okay to not be okay. Just an acknowledgement and nothing more. It was tempting to wallow in self-pity but one had to tear oneself away from doing that. 

I knew I desperately needed a sliver of solace and comfort, so I headed for a hot shower, followed by a comforting cup of tea, and finally a leisurely walk in nature. 

Need I tell you how wonderful it was to re-calibrate and prepare myself for the busy work day ahead by giving myself some TLC?

Now, all I needed was a push from within and that push came from my commitment to ‘show up’ at my desk, despite the odds. I started with the chores that were least complex, so I could tick them off first. From the rest, I only chose the ones that were urgent. I took short breaks and laboured on, leaving out the rest, until most of my tasks for the day had been ticked off. 

On hindsight, whenever I look back on these difficult days, for some strange reason, they always seem to appear less challenging than when I had first encountered them. Maybe, it makes one more resilient and tough in the process of tackling them, that one begins to see how in these small victories, and moments of persuasion and the grit to keep going, one finally gets to uncover one’s true character!

So, if you’ve been weathering harsh days, please remember, that these days are not meant to break you, but to remind you of your inner strength, your ability to weather storms and emerge stronger on the other side.

And always, remember you are not alone in this.