Postive and Negative Voices

When you're down and life has thrown you more than a few curve balls, it's tempting to roll back into bed and pull the sheets over your head. 
I did today, but I finally got out of my slump early evening time.

One thing I can feel is that when you're at the bottom, you are more fragile and tender.  It's easy to hear the words people speak to you and interpret them as positive or negative.  When days are tough and you have already beaten yourself up, it's hard to hear words which might make you feel more like a failure. 

I remind myself tonight that no one has walked in anyone's shoes but their own, and if you have done right, your character can rest easy.  If you have made mistakes, your character can grow, but you don't necessarily need the pointers in the moment.  Some people don't know you well might not know the full extent of your cries, worries, desperation.  They might not see how critical and hard you can be on yourself or how you strive to give it your best, and a judgment might feel as though you are deserving of failure and loss. 

All I know is I have felt both today- the negative voices and the positive.  The negative ones tell me I did something wrong, I wasn't enough, and the positive ones tell me the job wasn't good for me, didn't suit me, and better things are ahead. 
I want to offer the balm to my friends and neighbors.  I understand the feeling of despair and confusion, self doubt and questions.  Sometimes there are no answers, and sometimes the best we can give to ourselves and each other is compassion and heart.  Let people rest.  Let people heal.  Offer grace...