Happy August! It’s time for the very first installment of my new series, Looking Forward. This monthly post will focus not on how to move forward with your self improvement, emotional health, or success, but will hopefully encourage you to keep working toward those things by giving you a glimpse of what you will feel when you’ve made it. It’s something only you can do, and I hope to help you along your journey with these posts. I also hope you can use these posts to gauge the advice you get from others on Instagram. Often, they mean well, but give advice that minimizes your issues, oversimplifies the solution, or outright enables these unhealthy behaviors. These posts should give you an idea of whether the advice is leading you to a happier, peaceful life, or to one overly stressed with the same feelings you experience now.
I wanted to start with helplessness, because it really affects the success of any of the other issues you may be working through at this time. Helplessness is learned behavior that can stem from many things. Defeatist attitude, helicopter parents or teachers, or even bossy siblings and friends can set you on the path of constantly expecting others to direct, approve, and permit your actions before being confident to go forward. This is harmful to a number of things, including self esteem, confidence, agency, and independence. If you feel that you suffer from a lack of these things, you may be experiencing helplessness in your daily life.
This can be a difficult thing to overcome, but it’s well worth the effort! If you feel uncertain or under-motivated during your journey to become a less helpless person, here are some things you may feel or think after moving past it.
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