1416: For when life is life-ing
Today we're retuning with one of my favourite metaphors as well as one of my favourite sayings, and taking the blame off our own shoulders.
Episode transcript:
Good morning, Daily Peppers, and a very happy Tuesday to you. So today I thought I'd share a metaphor that I know I've shared before on the daily prep, but it's definitely one that's worth revisiting and it can be a really helpful reframe. And it's this idea of having an overloaded suitcase. Sometimes in life we just have a lot going on and our suitcase is overflowing and our first instinct is to try and repack things to make everything fit. When that doesn't work, we might try sitting on the suitcase and trying to do it up. But then we worry about the zip breaking because this fucker is not closing. We may try rolling the clothes instead of folding the clothes, and we try every which way, but the suitcase just won't close. Now, so much around us tells us to optimize and to maximize, but the truth is that sometimes our suitcases are simply overflowing.
And not even the most expensive packing cubes in the world could solve that issue. But my goodness, do we throw everything at it. We, we convince ourselves that we must be doing something wrong and there is simply something that we missed. And let's face can be really shitty to realize that we've got an overflowing suitcase. But to go back to a quote I've shared before on the daily Prep from Emily McDowell, what if it's not a personal failure, but an impossible setup? So often when things aren't going right, the first thing we do is blame ourselves and we figure that we've done something wrong and we go into fix it mode. But sometimes you just dealt a really bad hand or you have one of those seasons which is just like that suitcase overflowing. And the best you can do is try and figure out what's the most important things, try and remove the extra shit where you can and simply survive. That is not you doing anything wrong.
That is not you not optimizing. That is you dealing with this one wild and precious and fucking messy life. Oftentimes our want and our search for these perfect packing cubes that are going to solve everything is a way of gaining some control on what can be an unruly situation. But it can also distract you from having compassion for yourself right here and right now. So if you are in a season of life where your suitcase is overflowing and no matter how much you try and reorganize it, that fucker is not closing. Remember that everything is temporary, that it might just be an impossible setup. And it is probably definitely not a personal failure. And maybe you've optimised every which way you can already.
You're doing so much better than you think. And only in hindsight will you realize that you were doing the best that you could and that that is enough. Being a human can be messy. It can be complicated. It can be really fucking painful. And that doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. And if there's one piece of advice that I'd like to leave you with today, it's to see if you can try not beating yourself up for beating yourself up. We don't need the extra layers.
The suitcase is heavy enough already. And you really, really are doing better than you think. However, this Tuesday finds you. I hope you find a pocket of unexpected joy today and you remember that everything changes when you believe you.
Transcription automatically produced by Castmagic.io
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A short, snappy and sassy daily podcast to keep your internal - and external - dreamshitters at bay!
The Daily Pep! is the rebel-rousing, daily podcast for couragemakers, creative, multi-passionate and unconventional women. If you’re surrounded by people who don’t get who you are or what you do, if you want reminders you’re on the right path (no matter how scary it feels), or you’re sick of being your very own worst enemy, this is the podcast for you.
Every weekday, your host - writer, coach and professional rebel-rouser - Meg Kissack helps you build a creative and wholehearted life, one day at a time. Through short and snappy insights, reminders and stories, The Daily Pep! is here to remind you you’re not alone, and that everything changes when you believe you matter. Each episode is short and snappy, designed to fit in with (or help you start) your habits and routines.
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