My friend Jean posted this beautiful illustration this weekend and I’m still thinking about it, and the caption she wrote about it. Jean gave me permission to share all this. (Thanks, Jean! Also, check out her Instagram here and her shop full of cat stickers, prints, stationery, and shirts here.)
In the post, Jean talked about how she’s learned healthy coping skills over the last year, but still has days where she falls back into unhealthy patterns, and that would make her think “wow what a shame, I’ve worked so hard to develop healthy coping skills to have it all go down the drain.”
But she realized healing isn’t a one and done thing that you complete – it’s a process. It’s about practice. (It’s maybe even a lifelong journey.)
So she’s realized that when she takes a step backwards she doesn’t have to tear herself down about it. She can re-assess and improve the next time it happens.
I loved how simply she illustrated and explained this – it really spoke to me. I try not to beat myself up a ton when I fall back into my own unhealthy patterns, but I’m human – I sometimes do.
But what if I viewed that as a learning opportunity, as Jean recommends? Even if I can’t in the moment, but maybe later?
It seems so obvious, but it wasn’t to me.
It gives me the hope that I can continue to bounce back from small setbacks, and learn to not let the bigger problems ones get me so off track that I feel like I have to start over again.
I’m going to save this image to my phone so I see it and often and remember its message!
I like it! Yes it’s “obvious” when someone else says it and makes a cute cat graphic to go with it. Most of us need all of the reminders that we can get!
I’m glad you like it! And yes please to the reminders! I get so stuck in my head.
Oh, I love this. So, so true. Like most journeys in life, healing is more of an up-and-down than a straight line up. It’s “crazy” to think otherwise and we have to remind ourselves of that. Love the illustration!
I am so glad it spoke to you too! I definitely needed the reminder that it’s not linear!
This is SO true. I love your friend’s drawing. Nothing in life is linear – life itself is a game of chutes and ladders, if you ask me. There are ups and then there are (unexpected) downs. I think going in with the mindset that there will be setbacks in … well, whatever … makes you more prepared for when those occur, for sure. 🙂 So glad you took this message to heart! Don’t be so hard on yourself, my friend. <3
I love your analogy of chutes and ladders too! And I am working on it! This came up in therapy yesterday too, so I really need to make sure I think about this each day so it’s in the forefront of my mind.