When you are motivating yourself to reach success, it is common to experience tons of discouraging moments. Sometimes these hindrances take everything away from you. It ruins your ability to think correctly. It wears you down up to the point that you can no longer function, and it makes you feel worthless. There is something about it that crawls up in you, which you can never explain. There is this feeling of ungratefulness that you begin to have without thinking about the good stuff. It becomes the number one problem in terms of achieving your goals in life.
“Regardless of the source of discouragement, it is there and the once great project is no longer getting any of your attention.” – Christine Hammond, LMHC.
Discouragement And Its Effects
The problem with discouragement is the buildup of self-loathing attitude. When you often feel that you are not good enough and that the things you do seem unappreciated, you tend to lose control over your purpose in life. Discouragement takes your confidence away and changes it to something you are not supposed to have. It becomes an excuse for not wanting and trying your best. It becomes a reason for quitting. It causes anxiety and depression. It becomes anything you can imagine negatively. It never allows you to progress. In the worst cases, it makes you think that there is nothing good in you.
You know when discouragement takes effect when you tend to lose interest in doing the things you used to love. There are passion and motivation that drift away together with your reason for aiming for success. Sometimes the transition is not that evident, though. But after an extended period, discouragement becomes a thing you only choose to have.
Discouragement And Mental Health
The significant purpose of discouragement in your life is to make you lose your mindfulness. That is because it can ruin your brain functions. Therefore, your actions, habits, and even personality change when this particular thing hits you. You may not seem to understand why it does affect you that much. But to explain it further, it is all because of its damage to your target areas, especially your emotions. According to Leslie Becker-Phelps, Ph.D., “One common way to help yourself is to think of times when you were in a good place. When failure discourages you, think of when you’ve succeeded. When depression makes you despair, think of when you were happy. By itself, this can be difficult to do. But you can do it.” Check out BetterHelp for more helpful tips in case you need more.
Yes, discouragement is meant to sabotage your emotional stability, where it pushes the adverse effects to ruin your mental health. It shifts your focus to those unnecessary things only. You get angry for little reasons. You get frustrated by not handling matters well. You feel unloved. You become less motivated to achieve anything. All that stuff that makes you hate life and more. But do not let that happen. You should take control.
Takeaway
Discouragements are always part of your every journey. It is not something you can shrug off anytime you want because it sticks like hell. But you have to remember that it will never define who you are. It will not make sense when you know you are working and trying your best in everything you do. Discouragements mean nothing when you learn to use it to your advantage. When you look at it differently, it might become a motivating tool for you to go on. So let it stays with you. But, never allow it to eat you up. So if you’re concern with your thoughts, seek help.
Donna M. White, LMHC, encourages us through these lines: “So when the times get tough, don’t get discouraged and don’t feel defeated. Hold your head up, stick your chest out and find your inner strength to forge forward.”