This morning I got a big NO to a major question in my life.
It took me aback. It launched a momentary pity party.
I got quiet, I felt small and I felt like my dreams were dashed.
It’s not the first time I’ve heard NO. I didn’t get into my first choice for undergrad, Syracuse University, yet I went on to have a successful Emmy award-winning career in TV.
I’ve applied for jobs that I thought were the perfect fit because I’d be living and working in a cool city. But I heard NO.
Feelings of FAILURE overwhelmed me.
What could I have done differently?
Did that decision a few years ago screw up this opportunity?
If I could just get a do-over, could I fix this?
In midlife, major questions like where you’ll live and where your children will attend school can rock your world (or at least really feel like it).
It’s what I’ve heard in countless mommy groups:
“Someone outbid us on our dream house.”
“We didn’t get into the pre-k lottery.”
“Our contractor says it’ll be two more months before they finish the project.”
As a mom who faces depression, I knew I had to dust off this funk or it would overcome me. It would become a big, comfortable quilt I’d wrap myself into for a day or a week.
The big, comfortable quilt would also become heavier and heavier.
Because I knew only God could help me see the light in this darkness, I turned to these Seven Confidence Building Scriptures for Moms.
7 Confidence Building Scriptures for Moms
Click To Tweet
And I reminded myself to be gentle and forgiving TO MYSELF. In case you need it, here’s a printable letter of forgiveness to yourself.
I wish I could say I immediately felt better after reading my own encouragement. It took a moment. But I feel like I won’t start down the slippery slope of depression.
Talk back to me in the comments: How have you bounced back after failure? How do you encourage yourself?
I hope you join me each week for a Midlife Monday topic. You can catch up on the rest of my Figuring Out 40 journey here.