The Truth About Hard Times
I feel like my blog is a little “fluffy”. Edgy fluff, but fluff nonetheless. I know life is more complicated than some of my posts suggest, but I hope my little blog here can inspire, empower, or give you hope.
Dealing with shit is what brought me to punk and ska. I had more than my share of grieving, being bullied, and then mental health struggles as a result in my teenage years. Going to concerts has always meant getting together with other people who were dealing with their own shit to collectively dance and say “fuck it” for a bit, because hard times can feel endless and draining.
How do you “keep calm and carry on” when everything sucks? Motivation is fleeting and unreliable; discipline and resilience are the real tools for survival.
Stay the Course Even When It Sucks
You need to acknowledge and lean in to the difficult thing objectively, knowing that you will work your way around or out of the situation so long as you don’t give up. Sometimes, stubbornness is a superpower.
Strengthening Resilience : Bouncing Back Like a Boss
Resilience isn’t about avoiding pain; it’s about choosing to keep going in spite of it.
- Reframe setbacks as information, without judgment. Ask objectively, “What is going on?”
- Find purpose in your pain. Ask yourself, “How can this experience fuel growth?”
- Keep a resilience playlist – Music to remind you that you’re stronger than the chaos, and you’re not alone.
Journaling these prompts while listening to empowering music is how I deal with all my shit. It sets me up to work through or around all the hard times.
Building Discipline : Small Steps With Big Impact
Discipline is showing up even when you don’t feel like it. These little tips can help keep you out of a major rut:
- Non-negotiable routines : Anchor your day with simple, consistent actions. A morning routine could be as simple as washing your face and getting a glass of water; an evening routine could be brushing your teeth and two minutes of mindful stretching.
- The Two-Minute Rule : When every little thing feels like too much, commit to ridiculously small steps like spending just two minutes on a task.
- Accountability : Write it down, use a habit tracker, or be bold and tell someone what you’re committing to.
When to Rest vs Push Through
Resilience isn’t just perpetually pushing harder – It’s also listening to your body and your intuition, and knowing when to take time to recover. I intentionally schedule a weekly “Do Nothing Day” to reset my mind and recharge without guilt.
The Freedom That Comes From Resilience and Discipline
Nothing good comes quickly – These muscles build gradually over time. When shit gets real and motivation fades, discipline and resilience keep you moving forward.
This week, create your resilience playlist – Five songs to remind you that you’re tougher than anything life can throw at you. When life gets loud, blast it louder!
Give me a “like”, share this article with friends, subscribe if you’d like to see more articles like this, and leave a comment below – What’s the toughest thing you’re pushing through right now, and what’s one small but badass step you can take today?
Rock on!
zen BLITZ 