Three years ago, my constantly worsening sleep deprivation and stress resulted in a burnout. I’m 30 years old now, at the time of posting this comic, and I still haven’t recovered fully. I still have the heart symptoms - even the smallest amount of stress brings the symptoms back. It’s likely I will never recover enough to work a fulltime job again and I can’t go back to high-stress environments like customer service. But that’s alright. I am more than just my work. I’m slowly learning to be merciful towards myself and to show myself the same kindness I show others, and I think that’s very important.
you can like a subject and still not be good at it!!!! you can fail a major class and still be interested in that major!!! and you can hate certain subjects and still be very good at them!!!! likes and dislikes don’t have to correlate with what you’re good at!!!!!
Dear soul, I know you’re trying your best. If taking things one day at a time overwhelms you, there is no need to fear or feel ashamed. Break it down into one hour at a time, one minute at a time, even one breath at a time. Inhale, exhale. You’re doing a great job, even if no one else can see it right now. You’re winning battles every day. Your victories have far more meaning than you think, no matter how small they might seem to others or even to yourself right now. You’re trying, you’re fighting, and you’re winning against whatever heaviness is trying to weigh down your soul. It might be hard to believe right now, but it’s true. Your future self is watching you from their memories with ever so much love and compassion for you. You deserve to be proud of yourself. It’s not always easy, but you aren’t giving up, and someday, you’ll be so glad that you didn’t. Keep it up. I believe in you.
You’ll find a place where you fit in. You won’t even question it. The sense of belonging flowing through your very being will overpower any thoughts of self-doubt or insecurity. All that you’ll feel is the abundance of love around you - love for your true self. No more masks. No more hiding. No more worrying about whether you’re too much or not enough. You already are enough, dear soul. And soon, there will be others who recognize that, too. Please, don’t ever doubt that. Rest your mind knowing that your future self is surrounded by more warmth and love than you could ever imagine. Your future self is smiling. Your future self is proud. Your future self is grateful that you never gave up.
it doesn’t have to happen all at once. take a deep breath, refocus, and chip away at it a little bit at a time. you’ll get there. it’ll take time, but you’ll get there. it doesn’t have to happen all at once.
