Q - Quit It!

We’re a couple weeks into 2018, and the “New Year High” is in full swing. Everyone is setting resolutions for the coming year, working towards the new goals they’ve set for themselves, and starting new things. That is awesome! But what I think we all need to do more of is quit.

Yes, quit.

So many of us focus on only adding new things into our lives that we often overlook things we can eliminate from our lives that would make our lives so much better!

Here is a list of things I think we should all work towards quitting in 2018:

QUIT: COMPLAINING |#CountBlessingsNotComplaints

This is actually really hard for me. While complaining does feel like a good stress reliever, it gets you absolutely nowhere; it’s a waste of your energy and will only keep you in a negative mood. The next time you want to complain, count your blessings instead! When you count your blessings, what you were going to complain about usually seems pretty silly.  Like I said, this is really hard for me…some days I just want (sooo badly) to let Michael know just how stupid (excuse my French) so and so is, or how many idiot (excuse my French again) drivers I encountered on my drive home, or how cold it was in my heated office (*Face Palm*). When I’m able to catch myself on the verge of complaining, I try to remind myself that this is not how God would want me to talk or act,  and I try to think of my blessings instead. Instead of complaining about how stupid someone is, use that as a teaching/learning opportunity for that person (in a nice way). Instead of complaining about the drivers on the road, be thankful you have a license and vehicle to drive. Before you complain about the elements around you, be thankful you have a job with an office that has heat. Of course we’re all going to complain from time to time, but it’s something we can definitely work on doing less!

QUIT: STRESSING AND WORRYING | #LetGoAndLetGod

It is so incredibly difficult to not stress and worry about things; it’s in our nature to do so! But a lot of us spend too much of our precious time and energy worrying about things that we either can’t do anything about, or that don’t even matter.

-        If you can change it, change it.

-        If you can’t change it, don’t stress about it.

-        If it’s out of your control in any way, do your best to not stress about it.

-        If it won’t matter 72 hours from now, don’t stress about it.

If there is a legitimate stressor in your life or you have a hard time not worrying about things that are out of your control (this is definitely me), work through it as best you can without letting it run your life. Try engaging in stress relieving activities such as going for a nature walk, taking a bubble bath, getting a massage, listening to relaxing music, go for a run, take a yoga class, see a movie, get coffee with a friend—whatever helps reduce your stress, do it! It’s not easy, but it is something you can work on managing with the right tools and support from your loved ones (or professionals if it comes to that).

QUIT: ATTEMPING TO BE PERFECT | #PerfectlyImperfect

No one is perfect, including you! We are human, which means we are going to make mistakes, and that is just an unavoidable part of life. We are all perfect in God’s eyes—flaws and all—and that’s what truly matters. What other people think about you doesn’t matter, and the standards society sets for you do not matter…what truly matters is that we were given a life to live in which we strive to be our best selves by trying new things, setting goals, succeeding, failing, growing as a person, and beginning again. Without failure, we would never learn and become wiser individuals. So celebrate your successes (of course!), but also celebrate your failures, because those show you that you had the courage to try and the wisdom to try again.  

QUIT: NEGATIVE SELF TALK/BODY SHAMING | #BeYOUtiful

Repeat after me: I am awesome. I am amazing. I am beautiful/handsome. I am loved.

Yeah, it might be kind of cheesy, but it’s so true! We’re all guilty of focusing on our flaws, and it breaks my heart because 95% of the time no one else see’s the flaws that we do. It’s like we see ourselves through a black light of what we think “perfect” should look like, with our flaws being exposed under the light. But like I talked about in the previous paragraph, we’re not meant to be perfect. We’re meant to have flaws—it’s what sets us apart from everyone else and makes us unique! Own your flaws! Now this doesn’t mean you can’t change; if you want to lose weight, gain weight, gain muscle, etc. then go for it! Just promise yourself that you’ll do it in a health way and be kind to your body; love it at every stage. Thank your body every day for how amazing it is, because it truly is an amazing “machine”. Oh, and above all, do NOT compare yourself to other people! I repeat, DO NOT. We are all created differently (looks, shapes, genetics, etc.), which means what works for one person may not work for another. Find what works for you and go from there! It will take time, trial and error, and patience, but it will be worth it. Just believe in yourself and love yourself at all times, no matter how hard that might be. You can’t make positive changes with a negative mindset!

QUIT: PROCRASTINATING |#YouDoYouBoo

Is there something you want, or need, to do? Then Nike up and JUST DO IT! Life is too short and unpredictable to hold yourself back from living your life exactly the way you want to live it. Whether you want to travel abroad or simply get the trash taken out, make it happen! I find that the little tasks I need to do around the apartment are often what bug me the most, and once I complete one task, I have motivation to power through and complete them all! All it takes is a spark, and there’s no time like the present! Don’t let anyone, yourself included, get in the way of how you want to live your life!

There are many more things I think we can all work on eliminating from our lives, but I don’t want to bite off more than I chew (or step on any toes). These suggestions are not black and white, and I think the topics are something we can all relate to in one way or another. All in all, have a grateful heart, let go and let God, love yourself, and live your life in whatever way makes you happiest! I want nothing more than for each and every one of you to live the happiest life you can possibly imagine, because you deserve nothing less—never forget that!