Just Hold On

Sometimes the grey, wintry days, like today, drain my energy. Left feeling lethargic and somewhat foggy, the fight for motivation is on. Because doing any focused task is hard. And that’s the moment when I know I must just hold on.

Anchor Yourself in Reality

As a writer with a day job, ‘just holding on’ is a mantra that gets me through most days. Especially on the days when I write—whether I’m working on a novel or blog post—and time feels short. It’s not only that the writing feels uphill, but that I’m not making the best use of the time I have. But that is my reality, writing around a day job, so I remind myself to keep showing up. That is, after all, how I wrote every previous book. In those difficult, and frustrating, periods I stayed the course.

It’s important to not get caught up in frustration and take the long view. Not everything happens overnight, and projects often take longer to complete than we think. And when I’m frustrated by that lack of time, then I need the courage to have an honest conversation with myself about how I’m spending my time. At the end of the day, it’s all on me—the choices I make, the thoughts I believe.

Just Hold On

There’s a lot happening now, too. I’m in a new role at work that requires a lot of training. I’m working on creating new, and better, habits around food, exercise, and my productivity. Change is hard, and draining when resistance rears its ugly head. And that only adds to any simmering frustrations.

But as uncomfortable as this struggle is, this discomfort is a good thing. And I will just hold on because of the message it conveys. That I am sick and tired of being sick and tired, and that’s why I’m making changes. To become the best version of myself and live a life without regret.

Now is the time to stay committed. To do what we love no matter what. Now is the time to hold fast to dreams, to who we dare to be. And when, as the saying goes, the going gets tough, remember to just hold on.

Let me be the first to remind you today that you are loved, you are worthy, and you matter. And you don’t need anyone’s permission to be—wholly and unapologetically—who you are.