This gloomy autumn morning, I woke up feeling heavy. I hadn’t heard back from a project I was excited about, and self-doubt sneaked in. I must have dreamt about it at night, and it didn’t let me go in the morning until I decided to let it go. I gave myself 20 minutes to really feel my emotions. A friend once told me that he sets a specific timeframe to process negative feelings before picking himself up and doing something helpful. It’s a practice that’s become pretty invaluable to me.
Recently, another friend shared a great piece of wisdom—using envy as a marker for what I truly desire. When I saw someone get cast in a play with a theatre director I really want to work with, I felt that familiar pang of jealousy. It wasn’t just about jealousy, though. I realized it was a scarcity mindset at play—the idea that there isn’t enough success to go around.
By catching this mindset early and shifting back to an abundance mindset, I remind myself that there are plenty of opportunities out there. This shift transforms envy into motivation, helping me pursue my own goals with renewed vigor and hope. Plus, I keep asking myself, “What thoughts will help me move forward?”
This morning, I’m glad I got out of bed, put on my gym clothes, and went to the F45 workout I thankfully didn’t cancel. I’m also glad I didn’t cancel on my scene partner for our two-hour rehearsal. It feels good to push myself gently this week.
Darren Hardy once said, “The definition of commitment is doing the thing you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you.” Sticking to my commitments, even when I’m feeling down, really does help me feel and do better afterward.
If you’re ever in the same boat, I hope you find the nudge you need, too! I think we all have some sort of inner conflict. My therapist described it to me as two wolves: one is a wolf that feeds on things like despair, envy, and fear. Another is a wolf that feeds on joy, courage, and hope. The wolf that stays strong is the wolf we choose to feed.