As the title suggests, I had a moment of reflection today and just thought WOW - I've come so far, I'm so proud of myself and my little life! Things I never imagined having the courage to do - 10 years ago, 3 weeks ago - I have done them and grown stronger for it.
I think we all need to celebrate ourselves for our strength and overcoming the scary things!
For instance: in January, I ended a long-term relationship which had turned nasty and moved my entire life into a 1-bed flat. First time living alone, first time sorting all the bills and utilities out - terrified to start with, but I asked for the right help and now I couldn't be happier in my cosy little place. I'm a different, more worldly person compared to 1 month ago.
Then I started thinking of all the other scary things I've done and got through, like when I was 20yrs old and had a work experience placement in London - I was so terrified, it was the first time I'd visited London and I wept for the whole 5hrs on the Megabus journey there 😅 fast forward into my 20s, and I was happily living and working in London, meeting new friends and having adventures! Or when I decided to do an internship in the Netherlands for 3 months, scared shitless about living in a foreign country alone, and ended up developing a taste for solo travel and meeting new worldwide friends.
Or when I was 16yrs old and my DD had a mental health crisis and it was down to me to call an ambulance, as my family were in pieces. Since then, I've completed first aid training, and I've calmly supported other people with accidents and incidents in workplaces.
I might not be an Olympic athlete, or a Nobel prize winner, or a supermodel, or whatever, at the age of 30, but I feel proud about the little mountains I've climbed nonetheless.
What are your memories and experiences of overcoming fear and anxieties? What has made you feel like you've grown into YOU?
P.s. if I can catch a spider in a glass by myself, or overcome my phobia of touching my own eyeballs for the first time, then I've made it (as far as I'm concerned 😂)
P.s.s. HUGE support to anyone else out there who struggles with anxiety/GAD 🩷