you can do it

Sometimes it’s tough.  Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be a reason to get out of bed in the morning.  Knowing the world will go on without your contribution is a weighty reality, one that is sometimes too much to shoulder.  So, you stay in.  Alone.

You’re not the only one.  Many people have that unshakeable feeling of isolation.  For some it’s seasonal, for others it’s something they battle every day.  Wondering if you matter to the world is not something that anyone wants to feel.  It isn’t a choice to have these debilitating thoughts in your head.  Instead of trying to explain that to people or putting on a happy face to mask what you feel, many decide to just avoid the whole thing and sequester themselves away until they can put on a brave face.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

There are things you can do to make yourself a part of the world rather then ostracizing yourself from it.  Here are some ideas to consider:

Pros and Cons List

This may sound odd, but a pros and cons list is helpful in a lot of areas, including this one.  Sit down and write an honest list about the qualities you bring to the table.  Write down everything – big or small.  If you have great organizational skills, jot it down.  If you are tall, jot it down.  Amass a cons list in the same way.  Then read it.  Thoroughly.  Truly see what is great about you and what challenges you have.  If you can make changes in your life to work on the challenges, devise a plan to do that.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

You are you.  They are they.  There is nothing to compare.  No two people can offer the same things – there’s not such thing as apples to apples when you’re talking about people.  Even those with the same education and the same background have other differences, whether they are emotional, psychological, or physical.  Comparisons don’t matter.  You can’t affect anything that someone else is or has.  You can only affect who you are and what you have.  Accentuate yourself and don’t worry about what other people bring to the table.

Talk to Someone

If you can’t seem to shake the pall surrounding you, reach out to someone. There is no reason to go through it alone.  Talking to family and friends may get you through in the short run, but a conversation with a professional about how you feel may be in order.  There is nothing to lose from this conversation and everything to gain.

Life does go on without you – to believe otherwise is a mistake that will only lead you to depression.  But your life doesn’t go on, not in a social sense, if you remove yourself from society.  You won’t stop time, but you will be missed by family, friends, and most of all, by the real you.