Some things I know to be true.
Identifying simple truths about my existence creates some solid ground when I am in need of it most.
Early on in my work in therapy (think nearly 15 years ago) I needed to truly get back to basics. I felt overwhelmed, unsure, anxious, and scared, nearly all of the time. Back then, the work was mostly around just pulling myself back up to baseline, which often felt like a monumental task (and still does sometimes).
One of the things my therapist encouraged me to do was to journal about all the things that I know to be true. What did I know for sure? What was an absolute truth in my world?
I kept a running list in my journal, back in 2010. I still have every journal I’ve ever written in, and I just now pulled it out and perused the list. I started it in July 2010 and kept adding to it until October 2010, writing additional truths as I thought of them. Some of them were really simple, like, “I am an introvert.” Or, “I feel really good when I finish therapy sessions.” Or, “Spending time outside is rejuvenating and refreshing to me.” (Simple, but as I was just beginning to discover who I was at 21 years old, monumental.)
Some were more profound. “I am tired of helping people. I do not want to go to grad school just yet,” I wrote. (I had planned to go to grad school for social work all the way back then, and instead went and lived my life and came back to it in 2021.) I also wrote things like, “I am learning and beginning to have compassion for myself, especially for when I was a little girl.” (A lot of self growth happened in 2010, you could say.)
The rest of the journal is empty. And I’d like to continue the list, in this chapter of my life that has me feeling particularly overwhelmed and uncertain and anxious and fearful again. Identifying simple truths about my existence helps me to feel clearer about who I am, helps me to trust in my own self, and creates some solid ground when I am in need of it most.
Here are some things I know to be true, in 2024:
Taking a morning walk, no matter how short, always makes me feel better.
My nervous system is and always has been exceptionally sensitive.
I would like to be kinder to myself.
I don’t feel good when I spend too much time on screens.
The friendships I’ve made in adulthood are some of my most cherished relationships.
It’s always a good idea to tidy up the kitchen before bed, even when I don’t want to.
When getting to therapy isn’t an option, journaling until all the thoughts and feelings are out can be almost just as good.
I should never, ever foster kittens when I am feeling emotionally fragile. (Not getting attached will be far too hard.)
I always feel better when I get to bed by 10pm. Always.
What’s something that you know to be true these days?
a temporary tattoo giveaway is coming…
Keep an eye out on my business Instagram this morning, where I’ll be holding a little giveaway for my “this is temporary” temporary tattoos! I haven’t done a social media giveaway in so long and I’m really excited to send out some goodies.
I have found this to be true too with fostering animals....same for when I'm even just going through a transition of any kind.