Why Your 2019 Isn't Going According To Plan & What To Do About It

2019 is in its finals months. Let’s all take a moment to let out a sigh of relief. We have (almost) made it through one of the toughest years I’ve personally had to deal with, and, those I’ve talked to, seem to echo the same. Wether the stars have misaligned or the world is being dished some serious bad juju, most people seem to be in the same sinking boat as me, scooping out water as fast as it’s coming in, praying we make it to the end. So if that sounds like you, welcome. Sit back, relax, and lets discover why your 2019 isn’t going according to plan and what to do about it.

First of all, let’s all take a deep breath. Great job everyone. If all else fails just remember this: you’re still breathing therefore you are still alive and still hold the potential to take this life by the horns and turn it into something beautiful. And that is something to be reckoned with.

However, life is a tricky thing sometimes. You can go from feeling on top of the world to feeling like you’re stuck the pits of hell quicker than the blink of an eye. And I get it, I’ve been there. In fact, I’m living in that right now. And it’s hard, really hard at times, but as I make it through each week I’m realizing something: it’s not getting easier, I’m getting stronger.

And contrary to the popular belief, becoming mentally and emotionally stronger is tough shit. It’s not sunshine and rainbows, its an agonizing process, that, at most times, doesn’t feel like anything, but failure after failure after failure. And we, as humans, don’t like to fail.

And if you’re like me, 2019 has dished up more failure, more heartbreak, more discontent, and more hardship than I was honestly prepared for. But that’s the kicker isn’t it, life isn’t good when you need it to be good, quite the opposite. When your luck finally takes a turn, it takes a hard turn and just keeps on heading south with a vengeance.

Lucky for us, however, God uses our tough situations to teach us some tough lessons. Our suffering isn’t in vain. Wether we like it or not, years like this do more for our personal growth than the good years ever will. If life is making you uncomfortable, maybe God is telling you it’s time to move. If life is breaking you down, God is working on building a stronger you. It’s not comfortable, but it’s ever so necessary.

Without the hard years, most of us would never evolve. We would fall into our normal patterns and simply exist. No risks, no change, no true direction, but through the trials we learn who we are and what we want. We are forced to confront ourselves and those around us. We make the hard decisions because we have to. The only choice we have is to progress, to shed the old and start anew.

But that’s much easier said than done. Changing yourself is hard and it’s even harder when it’s forced upon you, but when you look back after the storm, you’ll be grateful. The choices you make during those tough years can redefine your whole life. When you feel like nothing is going right, those are times you take the risk. You’re desperate for change, hungry for it, and that’s when you know you’re ready to change your life.

And that’s not to say you’re not going to break down along the way. You will cry, yell, throw things, distant yourself from friends and family, but that’s okay. You are growing and that means things can’t stay the same. If you need down time, take it. If you need space from those you love, do it. When times get tough, don’t force yourself to stay the same. Don’t smoother your growth because it seems uncomfortable to you or those around you. At the end of the day, you are you, and those who truly love you will still love you.

Let’s all make a vow, to love ourselves through the pain, to not lock ourselves away inside our heads or hearts, but to take the pain and heartache and fear and allow it to redefine our lives. These are the years that make or break people. Be strong for you. Find the lesson and follow it. There is no better time for change than right now. No one is guaranteed tomorrow so make the most of today.

2019 may not be going to plan and that’s okay. This isn’t the end, but a painful new beginning. Even if all you can do is take it day by day, keep walking, keep moving. You are becoming a better version of yourself. Good things never come easy, but they are worth it. You owe it to yourself to give these last three months of 2019 a run for their money and show the world that we may be bent, but we are far from broken. Here’s to grabbing life by the horns once again.