It’s Okay To Not Be Okay In Real Life

Let’s face it, some days we are not okay.

Some days it’s what happens within us, and others it’s what happens around us. Some days our worlds are sunshiny and some days they are full of storms.

There’s work stress and strife. There’s bad news and bad health. We experience sour stomachs and sour words. There are days we want to throw in the towel, feeling overwhelmed and under-appreciated. And, if our child (or teenager) throws one more temper tantrum, we might just lose our minds!

Some days we’re ill or our parents are. Some days it’s a struggle to make it out the door on time, let alone make a living. And, most days we might catch ourselves wondering, is all this craziness worth it?

Seriously.

Some days we are not okay.

Friend, allow me to take the pressure off. You don’t have to be okay. And, you certainly don’t have to pretend you are. As we live real and authentic lives, it’s okay to not be okay. It’s also okay to let others we’re you’re not.

If you need encouragement, tell someone you do.

If you need a break, ask for one.

Finding yourself overwhelmed? Share how you’re feeling with someone you trust.

If you need a hand, don’t be afraid to ask.

When someone asks how you are, if you’re not okay, don’t say you are. If they care enough to ask, they care enough to hear your answer.

Often times we stop short of sharing how we really are, especially on bad days, on tough days. Maybe it’s because we don’t want to look out of control. Maybe we think it’ll go away if we don’t talk about it. Or, maybe it’s just what others are doing in this world, so we must too. Right? Everyone else looks like they are okay, so we should be, too. What’s wrong with me when everyone else looks like they have it together, and I’m over her crumbling?

It’s okay to not be okay as you and I live real lives.

We can be honest. We can share with those we trust what’s really going on. And, as we do, we keep in step with being real, genuine, and authentic.

Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship. Proverbs 25:26 CEV

And, for those of us who are huggers, we might appreciate the Message translation of this same passage:

An honest answer is like a warm hug.

We can be our real selves. And, not be okay.

Friend, is there something going on in your life today? Is there anything from stopping you from being okay? Tell someone. Talk to God about it. Find a way to share it. And, give yourself permission to not be okay if you aren’t. Trust God in it, and watch Him work it out for His good and His glory. Because, He will.

It’s freeing to be real and to live a real life, isn’t it? Let’s keep going.

See you back here tomorrow.

Blessings!

Julie

 

 

It’s Day 16 of 31 Days of Living a Real Life. I hope you’re finding encouragement as you stop by. Know you are being prayed for today! If you’d like to catch up on previous posts in this series, you can find them here. Linking this post with the God-sized Dreams community.