Why bother trying when all your efforts keep amounting to nothing?

Sometimes you're tempted not to even bother

That’s a really depressing statement isn’t it? The kind that if you see on a poster/image, you immediately object over such blatant negativity, because nobody needs it. We want to see the awesome messages that tell you you’re a champion, or a tiger (even though you’re really a cat), or some sh*t like that.

But let’s be honest, how many times do you such such morbid and depressing thoughts? How many times are you tempted to say ‘Screw it all’ and not even bother? And what about the times you just decide you’re simply not good enough for something so you cancel the idea altogether?

We all have these thoughts, although often we just don’t want to admit it which is perfectly fine, pride and all. But it’s strange that when it’s a poster, or someone else is saying it, you can see the toxicity of it, but when it’s in your own head it sounds perfectly logically.

There’s a difference between acknowledging that you may not have a certain skill set, and nurturing thoughts that you can never be good at anything, or imagining you’re not good enough for anything. The former shows emotional intelligence and solid self knowledge; the latter shows that at times your self-esteem will take a hit.

It’s okay to feel this way at times, (life can really suck) and it’s even better to acknowledge it to yourself (you don’t have to tell everyone like I’m doing right now, it’s unnecessary), but you need to recognise these dangerous thoughts for what they are, and nip them in the bud. If you keep thinking about, you’ll perpetuate the cycle and could find yourself depressed.

when hope seems foreign

So here are a fews ways to control these soul destroying thoughts so they don’t get the better of you:

  1. Ride it out. Let out the frustration and the anger, but only for a brief period then bring it back in (ie you can cry in the bathroom if you’re the teary type)
  1. Remember your achivements and how you got to them, give yourself some credit, you can create the same magic again.
  1. Listen to some music or watch a few vines in line with your taste, it will provide your mind with something else to focus on
  1. Engage in conversation with other people, talking with other people will make you feel tons better
  1. If all else fails, then take a nap

NB: These suggestions are only meant to help with dealing with these thoughts in the moment, ie when they occur during ordinary day to day activities.

If you find yourself consistently feeling this way, seek help. Talk to someone who feel comfortable with, and who is likely to be emphatetic and understanding. If you can afford it, see a licensed therapist.

By Yvonne Feresu

Hi, I'm on a mission to be the best darn blogger south of the Sahara...and yes I know "best" is relative but you get my drift. So far I've won a national award for this blog, and earn my living professional as a writer, that's pretty cool, isn't it?

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