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She’s strong but she’s exhausted.

BOTH/AND.

There’s this thing in psychology they call “cognitive dissonance.”⁠ ⁠

The term is used to describe the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes.⁠ ⁠

 

Like, say, between

“yay I haven’t seen my bff for a month and I can stay all day and we’re going to get to catch up and talk about all. the. things.”⁠ ⁠

and⁠ ⁠

“omg my battery is dead and I’m going to die and I need to go. home. NOW.”⁠ ⁠

 

Perhaps.⁠

Or, more commonly, maybe things like:⁠ ⁠

 

“I overdid it and burnt out and this is my own doing” clashing with “this is a viral borne illness and isn’t your fault”⁠ ⁠

or⁠ ⁠

“the medical profession exists to help us get better” coming up against “my doctor refuses to consider this any further”⁠ ⁠

or⁠ ⁠

“I’m only 50 I have 15 years of career left and I have all. the. plans” slamming into “my body has limits it will not allow me to exceed.”⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

Needless to say, cognitive dissonance SUCKS.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

What we have to do, in order to live in this space of conflicting realities, is learn to switch from an either/or mindset to a both/and way of thinking.⁠ ⁠

 

I am both energized to see my friend AND exhausted by it.⁠ ⁠

The medical profession is both a helping profession AND a profit-driven industry.⁠ ⁠

I am both sick AND ambitious.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

This is the only way to move forward.⁠ ⁠ Either/or is a puppy chasing its tail—it never ends, the circle only occasionally changes direction.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

So yes, I AM strong.⁠ ⁠ I am creative. I am driven. I am full of faith. I am hopeful. I am eager to go-go-go…⁠ ⁠

 

AND⁠ ⁠

 

I am tired.⁠ ⁠ Exhausted.⁠ ⁠ Weary.⁠ ⁠ Frustrated.⁠ ⁠ Sad.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

 

But I’m less at odds with myself than I was when this started.⁠ ⁠ And THAT resonates.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

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Where do YOU need some both/and in your life?