I received this message from a reader named Serena and thought it was so powerful I asked her if I could share it with you.
From Serena:
If I have one Universal message for you it is this:
You are loved, supported, valued, cherished, appreciated, honoured, admired and respected. At every moment.
By the Source that holds you in love at every moment.
There is no moment here you have been left, nor could be.
You can do anything. The very best is wanted for you.
You are never alone. You are always loved.
No matter how difficult things seem, you are always being lifted up, even when you feel alone.
No matter how big a leap in life seems, you are greater than the distance you must jump.
You are free. You are able. You are complete.
Lots of love,
Serena
Coincidentally, Serena ended up leaving me this message on ‘one of those days’ when I was feeling pretty crappy and just needed to reframe my perspective. Lately, the anxiety that I’ve struggled with for many years, has started to creep back into my life and I’ve had a difficult time dealing with it on my own. Sometimes it’s anxiety about not feeling good enough or about my body; other times it’s about judgment from others or even feeling alone. If you’ve ever suffered from anxiety, you probably know that it has no limits and it can quickly impact your day to day life. To this day, I strongly believe that my eating disorder was a coping mechanism for my anxiety.
Anxiety usually breeds more anxiety which sucks. I feel more anxiety because I’m not supposed to be struggling with this anymore. I’m supposed to be past this. I’m supposed to be inspiring others. How can I do that when I’m struggling myself?
But I’m only human.
It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and get bogged down by negative thoughts that loop in our minds, but often, all it takes is a positive message to set those thoughts on the right track again, or even give us hope that we can change. That is what Serena’s message did for me. Her message reminded me that we all struggle and even if we’ve made great progress with things in our lives, sometimes they need more care and attention once and a while.
I receive a lot of emails from other women (and occasionally men) who are struggling with accepting themselves, finding a career they enjoy, ending a bad relationship, illness/injury, or even feeling accepted by their own family. Our struggles may be different on the surface, but what remains true for most of us is that we want to feel love and support from the people that matter to us. That will never change.
And usually that love and support is already there, but we fail to see it. We fail to open ourselves to accept it. We have to be vulnerable to let love into our lives. We have to take risks to make progress.
I’ve always loved quotes. I’ve always loved writing with my heart on my sleeve, knowing that others will connect with words on a screen, in a way that I will never know. I’ve always loved the power that a simple message can have.
Serena’s message inspired me to start working on my struggles with anxiety again. But, I know that I can’t do it alone, so I’ve decided to start seeing a psychologist again to help me with some unresolved issues in my past. I’ve had great success with therapy, and I know I will again. It’s scary though- even for me who has done it before- to open up and make myself vulnerable, but I know that I’ll be just fine. I debated for a while whether I would write this post or not, but I realized that if I didn’t, I would be missing the point.
I’m sharing this with you today in hopes that it connects with you on some level, no matter what you may be dealing with at this very moment. Maybe you got up this morning and the first thing you did was examine your stomach and thighs in the mirror, cringing, while vowing to lose weight. Maybe you struggle with alcoholism, bulimia, abusive relationships, shopping addiction, or perhaps you have the life you dream of and just feel guilty over the thought that something is still missing.
The best thing we can do when we’re struggling is reaching out to another person. The worst thing is to assume that no one cares or will judge us for our struggles.
We are never alone.
~~~
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”~Ambrose Redmoon
“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” ~M. Scott Peck
“We are all functioning at a small fraction of our capacity to live fully in its total meaning of loving, caring, creating and adventuring. Consequently, the actualizing of our potential can become the most exciting adventure of our lifetime.” – Herbert Ottto
Thank you so much for this! Yesterday, I mindlessly ate at a BBQ. I mean I wound up having a lot of chips and I felt like all my hard work these past few months was gone which is silly because it was only one day of bad eating. But I knew the best thing I could do for myself this morning was to make a GM, exercise and just live my life like usual. And honestly I think this way because of everything I’ve seen on your blog. You’re an inspiration everyday and the fact that you struggle with this stuff too just proves that you’re human and I think it actually helps all your readers see that life isn’t about how many times you fall. Its about how you get back up.
Thank you for sharing this, Angela. I have always struggled with anxiety & insomnia, both of which feed off of each other. I’m on vacation from school which should be more relaxing, but I still seem to be finding reasons to be anxious! We’ve had lots of company from out of town and done waaay too much eating out and drinking (in my eyes!), which seems to make everyone else feel good, but it stresses the hell out of me. I really try yo have a healthy outlook in life and “keep things in perspective” but I have been feeling like I’m on the brink of crazy lately.
This is just what I needed to hear this morning, though I know I still have a lot of work to do on myself. Thanks :)
This post is so beautiful. I too am on a journey to feeling the best I possibly can about myself, and some days it’s just so difficult. I can relate about the importance of great wisdom, though, which is why I always find a quote to be my “mantra” for the week. Having it stuck in my head for a few days always gives me that nudge of positive energy when I need it. Meditating on it in yoga is always a great way to clear my mind as well!
Again, thank you so much… this is really inspirational.
I love this… I will be sending this to my boyfriend. He needs a message like this in his life and this is just the right timing. Thank you.
I love. What a powerful message from a reader. When I get home I am printing that out and putting it on my wall!
I was recently diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder and Depression so I know exactly how it is to cope so now my attention is focused on all the good things, its great to shift perspective
Thank you for this…. you help more people than you know.
I wish you all the best.
“We may not like suffering when it visits us, but it serves us so well: it cracks the shell that covers our hearts and empties us of the lies we have clung to about who we are, why we are here and how this remarkable world of ours really functions.” Robin Sharma
“There are no mistakes in life, only lessons. There is no such thing as a negative experience, only opportunities to grow, learn and advance along the road of self-mastery. From struggle comes strength. Even pain can be a wonderful teacher.” Robin Sharma
“Immediately before a great victory, one will often experience a stunning defeat. The key is to maintain your focus and keep on believing. Don’t give up.” Robin Sharma
:) :) ;)
love those!
Thank you for this post. Even though it made me cry, it helped me. I have also recently decided to go back to therapy. I’ve used it a few times in the past and it’s helped me. I’m 20 weeks pregnant and I am slipping into a depression that I can’t get out of. I’ve always heard of postpartum depression but I’ve never heard much about pre-partum depression. I’ve struggled my whole life with disordered eating and body issues. Plus, there are other issues in my life that are bringing me down. I’m 36 years old and I thought I was “better” but it’s been creeping back into my life now for a few weeks and it’s hitting me hard. I think talking it out with someone else will give me better perspective. Thank you for reminding me that I’m not alone.
Thank you for your honesty. I have passed on this passage to several friends.
wow…. that exactly what I needed to hear today. I have been really struggling with trying to lose the weight and get back on track with a healthier life style. I have reached out to my mom to help me, and that was a big step for me. My biggest fear is slipping back into my eating disordered habits which I think is why I am having such a hard time losing the weight.
This was incredibly well timed, so thank you! I will probably re-read it several times today :-)
You are definitely NOT alone, anxiety is also a huge issue for me, and it totally can flare up and totally debilitate your day :-/
This morning started off “craptacular”. The culmination of several snowballing problems. Your reader’s encouragement reminded me that I am in God’s hands, even in the middle of this mess and that He’s brought me through rough times before and He will continue to do so. I can decide who I want to be in the middle of this and how I want to walk through this. THANK YOU!
Your post is so honest and beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
I choose to see a counsellor to deal with stress, fear, relationship issues, career issues etc., it provides a great sounding board. It is so beneficial, it is part of my life, like going to the dentist.
I am feeling exactly the same and have booked myself in for CBT. I do hope you feel better soon x
goodluck :) I love CBT!
You are amazing. Thank you for being so honest and showing us that it is OK to be imperfect. I hope that you are able to get past your current anxieties and feel beautiful again!
Thanks for your honest post. I have dealt with anxiety attacks in my life and counseling really helped. So did this tiny book called “help and hope for your nerves” by an old Aussie lady named Claire Weekes.
Hi Angela,
Thank you so much for this post – it is so inspiring and helpful when you share things like this so honestly with your readers. Anxiety is such a difficult thing to live with, and by turning your experiences with anxiety into a positive output (here on your blog) you have definitely inspired others to not feel alone. Thank you so much for providing a beautiful space here on your blog!
What a beautiful post! :)
I think whether or not people care to admit it, anxiety haunts everyone in some way, shape, or form. Our insecurities are like parasites. They subsist on our own health/well-being, and without treatment (whatever that may be), they grow; they multiply; they strengthen; and they attempt to overtake us. But there is a certain something that every person possesses–the power to overcome any threat and any parasite, to be more than the boundaries that your insecurities create. For some, it is readily accessible. For others, it’s locked deep within. But for everybody, it is there. The power to overcome that which daunts us is universal.
You’re right–we are never alone.
such a beautiful comment :)
Hi Angela,
Thank you so much for sharing this. You are very courageous to open yourself up to all of us who read your posts. All too often I think we’re all guilty of feeling anxiety about things that, in the end, don’t really matter. Most of us are too worried that our “perfect” personas will be ruined if we admitt this so we keep it inside. I think that if more of us were honest with each other, we’d all find that everyone has issues with anxiety from time to time. One thing that helps me whenever I’m feeling anxious, less than perfect (whatever that is), down in the dumps, etc is to write down at least 10 things that I’m grateful for. Once you start listing all the great things in your life, it seems to help to focus on the positive and gets you out of the negative. Anyway, thanks once again for your honesty. I absolutely love reading your blog and cooking your recipes. Thanks for all that you do for us. You are very inspiring!
wow, what a great message and I need to work on my anxiety too. Something I struggle with from time to time, I worry too much. Need to learn to talk out my problems instead of holding them inside and letting things get to bad.
Angela,
I just wanted to say that I cannot believe how incredibly blessed I am to have found your blog. My own battle with disordered eating has lasted 19 years, starting at the age of 7 when my mom put me on a crash-diet of cottage cheese and pineapple.
At my highest weight I clocked in at 330lbs at the age of 16. The last ten years have been the hardest on my body, my mind, and my spirit. I have managed, through a series of diets and “fasts”, to lose 130 of those pounds, in the unhappiest of ways. I married two years ago, and we are so incredibly happy, but both of us are sick. to. death. of my habits, attitude, and mindset about my body and obsession with calories, control, and emotional eating. I have circled the restrict/binge cycle many, many times. I have lost my mind in a fog of candy bars and milkshakes, only to wake up the next morning and sware off food and excercise out of guilt.
But (I LOVE that there is a BUT!), I have started the long, hard road into healing in my mind, body, and habits. I made the decision to step off the scale for good, and to stop giving myself a calorie alotment every day.
You have inspired me to believe that if someone else has gone through everything that I have gone through, then there is hope for me, however hard earned it may be. I completed my second 5k yesterday morning, and am learning to feel whole and unashamed with where I am.
THANK YOU for writing, and having courage. I look forward to your posts each day, and you continue to inspire and teach me. I appreciate you so much, and one day I guarantee you that I will share my own success story with other women so that they too can find their healing.
-Lindsey Krist
Thanks Lindsey for your comment and kind words. I’m so proud of you and the changes you have made! Im sure your story will be an inspiration to many. :)
Thanks for sharing this Angela. I see a therapist (not as much as I used to, but still often enough) and sometimes it makes me feel like I’m weak for doing so — but I know that isn’t the case. Most days I feel really proud of myself for admitting that I need some help dealing with anxiety, stress and depression and I’ve made progress which I attribute to my therapy, so why should I feel weak about that?
I hope you find some relief.
Thank you for being so brave to share what you are going through. It takes a lot to admit the things that we are struggling with and I think we can all use a few words of encouragement and be reminded that we are good enough!! Because we definitely are!
Keep your chin up because you are a beautiful person inside and out.
xx
Thank you for such a great reminder – especially for me this week. Tomorrow will mark 3 years since my dad passed away.
WOW, I really needed this quote today. Thanks so much for the inspiration! It’s easy to forget that I’m never alone.
Angela,
Great post. I think we all can relate. I have come to realize that I never beat anxiety or leave it behind, I just manage it in the best way I can. Your posts, with the beautiful pictures and healthy living, help me to stay positive and focused on making each day as good as possible.
We are more than our anxiety. I wish you the best in finding some peace, and please keep doing what you’re doing, because it helps me a ton :)
-Stephany
This is a great post Angela, thank you so much for sharing. Thanks to Serena too for being your inspiration.
Great post and what a sweet message.
Very inspiring. Thanks for posting :)
Thanks so much for posting this. I too struggle with anxiety and am in recovery currently from anorexia. I know that therapy has helped me so much. If there is one thing that I could share with you that I have learned thus far, it is that anxiety is not to be feared. It is not harmful…the bodily sensations that come along with it will not hurt us. They are TEMPORARY. Always. Once you stop fearing being anxious, you’ve won half the battle. Just try to sit with your anxiety and continue on with your day as normal. This tip from my psychologist has really helped me. I hope it will help you too. :) You will get over this next hump. I feel that times like this help to show us how we don’t want to live, so when we overcome our struggles we can truly appreciate our lives and all the wonders it has to offer. :)
I love that tip…thanks for sharing!
Man! This was the perfect day for me to read this. Exactly how I was thinking after I got on the scale this morning and after losing 60 lbs I have gained 40 of it back! :(
I needed this and today I vow to turn things around. Thanks for yours and Serena’s words. We are all in this together! :)
How *courageous* of you to open up like this, Ange! Good luck with the therapy. I’m sure this post helped many others:)
I have such extreme issues with anxiety that I often feel like no one has any idea of what I go through and how much it takes out of me. But I really enjoyed your honesty and the quotes that you shared. I need to copy them down!
Thank you, Angela, for being real. You ARE inspiring, not because you no longer have anxiety, but because you are facing your issues. I truly love your blog! I am sorry to hear you are struggling, I wish you the very best in coping with things. You can do it!!! And thank you for reminding me that I can too :)
Hey Angela,
I’ve been a creeper on your website for a while, but haven’t commented before. I just wanted you to know that I liked reading your site because you seem so put together, positive, and have a life that I greatly admire. This post made me love your site and connect with you even more because it showed me that even though I’m struggling with things like this in my own life, I can still make changes to get where I want to be. I often find my depression so crippling that I feel I can’t change anything until I feel better, but your post made me think that I could change other things in my life and that may help me more than just attacking the depression. And as a side note, it drives home that I am not the depression, even though I feel so bogged down by it because I’m just as multidimensional as someone like you, it just feels like I can’t get my head above it sometimes. Thank you for posting this.
-Stephanie
Thank you Stephanie! Goodluck with everything!
“Our struggles may be different on the surface, but what remains true for most of us is that we want to feel love and support from the people that matter to us. That will never change.”
That is so profound, beautiful and simply true that it brought tears to my eyes. This entire post is eloquent and moving, and you are an incredible person for sharing it (and for your blog in general, but I’m getting picky here ;) ). I know that in real terms it means nothing, but you have my thoughts and wishes with you, and I’m positive that you’ll find a way to move forward. Take care :) xxx
This is such a beautiful post. I love how honest you are. Your posts have helped my roommate and I so much throughout this year dealing with anxiety about ourselves, our bodies, and life. Thank you so much you are so inspiring!
Angela-that is such a wonderful post. Truly genuine and admirable. I, too, struggle with anxiety/self-esteem and very much appreciate this post! Best of luck into the future with inner happiness!! :)
Such a perfect post. The main reason I visit your blog is because you are not only inspiring, but also relatable, especially in posts like these!
Great post! Exactly what I needed to read today. I am going through some major life changes and though they are mostly positive, the anxiety can be overwhelming at times. I also struggle with forgiving myself for mistakes I have made and ruminate over them. Were all human though and need to give ourselves and others the forgiveness and support we need. You’re so brave to open up with your struggles and helping a lot of others in the process!
Thanks for sharing this, Angela. I envision you as such a warm and kind woman. Full of energy, creativity and love. This energy exudes from each of your posts. It’s so fantastic to see people living out their passion and living in love. Something I see you doing everyday! Or, at least it sounds like you are :)
I think it’s totally natural for us to have those off days. I had an off day last week when one of my coworkers told me to slow down with my marathon training. I took it SO personal – why would she tell me I couldn’t do it? Then, I realized that maybe she was saying she couldn’t do it, and was just reflecting her own feelings on me.
It’s amazing what happens when we remove our anxiety goggles and view the world with loving eyes. Works every time.
I too am challenged with anxiety, panic, and an onslaught of negative thoughts. I created the “positive affirmations project” on my blog a month or so ago to help me; and others, work through the negativity that can sometimes fill our lives. It’s been SO helpful!
Thank you so much for this post. Anxiety really does have a way of cropping up out of nowhere and taking over. Worst houseguest ever. Being able to talk about it in therapy and understand where it comes from has been such a big help in learning how to deal with anxiety. I love that you make your blog feel like a safe place for people to share their thoughts and experiences on what can feel like such a private, isolating experience.
Hi! October last year, after a nightly breakdown, I admitted to myself I had serious troble with eating disorder and started dealing with it. I told my family and frieds, opened up to theit love and acceptance. I started seeing a psychologist and read some really good books which helped me a lot. This June, I felt good and stable enough to have a summer break with my talkning sessions and I feel like I have gained a whole new life. A life that I want to live, alife where I begin to love myself more and feel more acceptance for myself. And during the whole process (and for some time before that), I have read your blog. You have shared so many wonderful stories and thoughtful words and often made me smile, with your words and pictures.
You are really an inspiration and so worthy of all the love in your life. I hope you feel better soon. :)
Angela, you are sooo inspiring! This post really hit home for me today. It was so helpful for me to read this today, and I am having a struggle of my own at the moment, and this was very comforting. As someone who is diagnosed with a panic disorder, I completely feel your pain. You are not alone! Seeing a therapist was magical for me, and helped to *almost* eliminate my panic attacks. I never hesitate to have a chat with my therapist when I need to. Best of luck to you in your journey with this.
Thank you for your honest post. Hope you feel MUCH better soon! All the best.
this post is truly beautiful, it brought a tear to my eye reading it. Angela you are such an inspiration! Thank you so much for your honesty.
Angela, all I can say is “Thank You”!
This post touched me in more ways than one. You have no idea how much I sympathize and understand what you mean, and how good was for me to read this post at this point in my life. So, truly, thank you for writing it, it was the best thing I have read this year!
Ana
Love this, missy. I hope you don’t mind, I read that message to myself, as though it were meant for me. Next to a smile after a hard run, timing is the most precious thing in the world. :)
aww :)
Love this post. Anxiety can be so invasive, but the best way to get rid of fear is to shine a light on it. And your light is shining strong in this post. Thank you, because this really speaks to my experience of late and you reminded me of some important things.
Thank you so much for this post and your honesty, it’s definitely not easy to bare all like that. I wish you all the luck in the world with your therapy and i’m certain that you will overcome this issue! You have such a great support system of love and friendship to help you along the way. Anxiety is something I have always struggled with and it has led to various problems throughout my life. Although it is much more under control now I still find myself worrying and panicking about things in the past, present and future. Most of it is completely irrational but when it gets hold of you it really takes control and affects every aspect of your life. I try to focus on positive thinking everyday and though it’s not always easy, It definitely helps. Sending you lots of light, love and positivity! :)