How are you feeling right now?
This writing prompt came up for me a couple weeks ago. I’ve tried several times to answer it and each time my answer has been different. The first time I tried to answer it, I was feeling like an idiot. Like I had a bunch of mistakes that were piling up and would inevitably lead to my downfall. The next time I tried to answer this prompt, I was feeling pretty good. I was accomplishing a lot. Then not even hours later, I was kicking myself to the curb again.
In the span of one day, I felt stupid and disappointed in myself, then happy and accomplished, to alone and withdrawn, until finally I stubbornly gave it my all until I was too exhausted to care anymore. It was like the weather in Midwest America. Sunny to rainy to snowy and tornadoes all in one day.
So, I struggled with this prompt. The trouble with how you’re feeling right now is that it can change on a dime. You could feel down in the dumps then something can brighten your day. Or, you could be flying high and reality can pummel you into the ground. Maybe you’re stressed? You feel you won’t get your tasks done. Yet, at the end of the day, you underestimated yourself. You’re feeling good that you were productive only to start the whole process over the next day.
My point is that you shouldn’t rely on what you’re feeling. Feelings tend to lie. You could feel everybody hates you when that isn’t true at all. You could feel like the world is ending and you’re not capable when you don’t even realize how strong you are.
So, the next time your feelings suggest nothing but negativity, I hope you’ll take a good, hard look at your feelings and question if they’re lying to you or not. However you’re feeling right now, flying high or down in the dumps, stressed or relaxed, you’re doing great.
nikki diekemper 