#difficult experiences

Disenfranchised grief is a loss that is not recognized or validated by others or society. It can add additional suffering to the already painful experience of grief. There are ways to navigate disenfranchised grief, including seeking professional support, validating your loss and feelings, prioritizing self-care, journaling, and joining a support group with others who can relate to or understand your specific loss.

Translate your hard experiences into a mission.

We wonder what we’re supposed to do with this life. Often comparing ourselves to those who seem to have it all figured out. However, it isn’t so much that those people have it figured out as they have used their past struggles, hardships, and experiences as a catalyst to create something meaningful. 

The tough times any of us are able to make it through offer a unique insight about how to overcome negative experiences, or better yet, avoid them all together. For example, some of the best doctors battled and overcame specific illnesses, only to become the leading practitioners in their field. They were able to translate their difficult experience into a mission.

What I've learned: Experiences you learn from are very difficult to handle. But, for the most part, I know that I am capable.

Also, that I am so committed to school and moving forward with my research experiences and becoming a psychologist, that anything which threatens this from coming to be is enough to make me lose my shit.