Instead of Giving Up
“How are you?”
Most of us get asked this question, or some version of this question, on a semi-regular basis.
“What’s up?”
“How’s it going?”
“What’s happening?”
“How was your day?”
“What’s new?”
The list goes on… and on… and on…
I mean, there are hundreds of ways to ask the same question, and not surprisingly enough, there are hundreds of ways to give the same answer.
“I’m fine.”
“It’s going ok.”
“I’m doing well.”
If you’re anything like me the answer leaves your lips without much thought. It’s automatic. It’s detached, and more often than you care to admit it’s a total lie.
In all reality, things are far from being ok. I dare say you might even relate to Shawn Mendes’ new hit In My Blood.
“Laying on the bathroom floor, feeling nothing. I’m overwhelmed and insecure, give me something… I’m looking through my phone again, feeling anxious. Afraid to be alone again, I hate this. I’m trying to find a way to chill, can’t breathe, oh… Keep telling me that it gets better. Does it ever?”
I have no doubt that these lyrics capture the un-vocalized emotions of our generation.
Instead of being vulnerable, we bottle up this fear, this insecurity, this anxiety, this isolation, and put a smile on our face, pretending like everything is hunky dory.
Despite our best attempts to hide them, though, our emotions are still there, consuming us from the inside out, because we are too afraid to admit them.
We have this irrational idea that our insecurity, our uncertainty, our anxiety, and our fear, somehow make us weak. We are afraid of what people might think… or at least I was.
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That was until I heard Shawn Mende’s newest hit.
“Is there somebody who could help me? It’s like the walls are caving in. Sometimes I feel like giving up. No medicine is strong enough. Someone help me.”
I confess. I play this song on repeat. I can’t help it. The raw emotion as he sings sends chills down my spine. The way he asks -no begs- for help gives me goosebumps.
When listening to the lyrics, I don’t think of him as being weak, not even in the slightest. On the contrary, I admire him. He is bold. He is authentic. He is brave. He is strong.
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Recently, I’ve opened up to others about my anxiety, my insecurities, and my fears for the first time. I’ll be honest, I was scared at first, but now… well… now I don’t feel so alone.
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Maybe you feel insecure in your current relationship.
Maybe you feel uncertain about an unexpected pregnancy.
Maybe you still feel the weight about a past decision of abortion.
Maybe you feel alone.
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But you aren’t alone.
Starting Point is here… to listen… to help… without judgement.
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“Someone help me. I’m crawling in my skin. Sometimes I feel like giving up, but I just can’t. It isn’t in my blood.”
I encourage you to ask for help. Instead of giving up, open up. You might be scared at first, but trust me, it’s worth it.
You’re not alone. We’re here for you.
Starting Point. Get Information. Get Answers. Start Here.
