Transitioning into a new season of life is never easy. We become comfortable and accustomed to a certain lifestyle. When you jump headfirst into a brand new journey, it can take a while for adjustment {I’m not sure we ever really adjust…}. My husband and I recently began a new chapter which has required some major changes around our household. He started school in January of this year and he will be unable to work for the duration of the program (just shy of 3 years). Boom. Thrust into a new season of life. Pair that with a huge career change for me {with a substantial pay decrease} and you have a little turbulence in your life. We have had to make some major lifestyle changes. Yes, obviously I realize that downgrading your cable is a #firstworldproblem. But trust me, it still sucks. I have found that what I struggle with the most is finding the joy in this situation. All around me I see evidence of people living a “better life.”
Her ring is huge. They just bought a house. A huge house. Man, I love that Michael Kors bag.
It is SO easy to focus on what I don’t have. With social media we are inundated with other people’s success. Keeping up with the Joneses. Can you imagine if the Jonses had an Instagram? Sometimes I have to remind myself that what we see people “post” is only a small snapshot of the life they are living.
It is not just materialistic comparisons that flood my mind. I compare myself to “super moms” and “cool wives.” I feel like I am barely able to grasp the ladder to these unattainable expectations. Who the heck is setting these expectations? Oh, right. I am. What am I basing these unattainable expectations on? An imaginary standard that no one actually fully meets.
Finding joy in the little things is helping to keep my joy thief at bay. My husband and I have become really creative with cheap meals {spaghetti for days} and cheap entertainment. No money for a gym membership? Jillian Michaels can scream at me from my house! For the past three months, all of my clothes have come from Goodwill {Meghan would be so proud}. I get really sick of people saying cliché things like, “it could always be worse,” or “be grateful for what you have.” It is easy for people who are onlookers to have an opinion about how you can find joy in your life. However, as much as I hate to admit it, they are right. Allowing this thief to break into my mind removes me from being present. I am often guilty of wishing myself into the future.
I wish we owned a home. I wish we could go out to eat. I wish I didn’t have to constantly worry about finances.
It takes me away from experiencing the abundance of blessings I have in my life. I have so much to be thankful for…even if I can’t DVR my shows anymore.
Have you recently gone through a major life transition? Does the “Joy Thief” break into your mind often?
Exactly this…AMEN! I am guilty of all this. I compare myself, my kids, my ability to be a wife and mother, and our material possessions to those around me. All it does is make me feel bad, and I am really trying to break this awful habit. I also find myself wishing my life away… for a time when it will be easier/less stressful/”better”. We’ve had a really hard time financially for the past year and a half, and I’m allowing it to rob me of my joy. My life is filled with blessings, and I’m trying so hard to focus on the good things in my life. Thank you for writing this and being so honest!