Do You Need A Pep Talk?
I can tell from your appearance that you need a pep talk.
I know that times are tough, that the future is uncertain, and that you don’t seem to be doing much to fix any of these problems. It’s moments like these when a few uplifting words can make all of the difference, at least in your mind.
First of all, it is so important to love yourself and engage in self-care. It might help with the bags under your eyes, your body weight, and your grimace. As I like to say during my pep talks, no one cares about you, so be sure to care for yourself!
Secondly, I know that you are scared right now, both for yourself and for your loved ones. But what’s the worst that could happen? Even if you die, I am sure your loved ones will eventually get over it and move on, their hearts fully healed and ready to find a replacement you.
When you think about the vastness of time–of the tiny, tiny blip of the entire human race in the history book of the universe–it might make you feel pretty insignificant. But if you think about it some more, your puny problems are even less significant than you are. I should probably add that your accomplishments are also not at all significant, even on a national level, let alone on a universal level, but this is a pep talk.
It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to feel helpless. Just try and not let it show so much. You’re dragging everyone else down with you.
It’s okay to make mistakes and take wrong turns in life. If it weren’t okay, you would have been locked up in Wrong Turn Mistake Jail a long time ago, believe me.
One thing you can do is start every morning by looking in the mirror and telling yourself that you are smart, beautiful, capable, worthy, and kind. Soon, you will be able to lie well enough to escape even the worst predicaments.
Sometimes jumping into action is the best way to get out of the doldrums. Could you jump into action, but not in the way you jumped into action at Megan and John’s wedding? Signing a petition or standing up and then remaining perfectly still are two ways that I think you could jump into action without making things worse than they already are.
Sometimes when you’re feeling down, it’s good to focus on those who have it worse than you do. I can’t think of anyone, but maybe you can?
Once there was a man who was trapped in the inky blackness of a great cavern. As a ferocious wolf and a great grizzly bear circled him, he thought he was about to meet his bloody end. But then the cavern filled with water and the wolf and grizzly drowned. Just when the man thought he was safe, he realized the water was infested with hungry sharks. I don’t know what happened to him, and judging from the story it doesn’t sound like anything good, but I bet he could have used a pep talk
Ask yourself: will any of this even matter a year from now? If the answer is yes, ask yourself, will any of this matter in five years? If that’s true, too, maybe take a 15-minute nap and see if you can forget those questions.
Even if something does go terribly wrong, recognize that you can always learn from your experiences. Adversity can lead to self-improvement, and maybe if you improved, you wouldn’t get yourself into all of these terrible messes.
Remember: you are an amazing person with a strong heart and you should celebrate yourself. I would love to come to your celebration, but I will be busy that day.
Also remember: this too shall pass. Even this pep talk.
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Sarah Aswell is a humor writer who lives in Montana. Her writing has appeared in places like The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, The Hairpin, and The Advocate among lots of other great sites. She’s a contributing humor writer at SheKnows.com and Reductress.