I love the phrase "it could be worse", and at the same time, I hate that phrase.
One thing that I have always struggled with is thinking that my problems are not "big" enough or "important" enough for people to ask about them, or to help me out with them. I was talking to my little brother a couple of nights ago and he feels the same way about his problems, then I started to think of this little phrase and I realized why I love it and hate it.
I love it because it gives you perspective, in the midst of your struggles it helps be thankful that this is what you're facing and not anything else. I think it's a good phrase to remember when you're in a really sucky situation, and I think that whoever came up with it meant it that way, it could be worse but thank God it isn't. It usually helps me remain thankful to God. It helps me remember that I am blessed beyond measure.
But here's why I hate that phrase, because when we use that phrase, 99% of the time we use it in this way: it could be worse...therefore I CAN'T complain or cry about my situation, this is nothing compared to what other people are facing. Man I can't tell you how many times I've misinterpreted this phrase and used it in this way. This is NOT what it means, it is not the purpose of that phrase.
Yes, it could be worse. Yes, other people are struggling in ways that we could never imagine. No, that does not mean your problems are not important. We tend to label problems as "little" or "big", the reality is that a problem is a problem, simple as that, and all problems lead to a solution. All problems are IMPORTANT. I mean it guys, if it matters to you then it matters, and if it matters then it has meaning. I am not saying this for you to be consumed and overwhelmed by how many things are going wrong in your life, I am saying this for you to realize that you're not overreacting and you're not being a drama queen, you're having a normal, human reaction to normal, human situations.
You are entitled to your own reactions to your circumstances. Humans react differently to different environments and we perceive things differently. To put my point into perspective I'm going to give you an example: my best friend is terrified of heights and she will cry if she has to be too up high somewhere, I am not terrified of heights but they do freak me out a little. If we were both sitting on the Giant Drop at Six Flags, she would probably be really scared, while I would be just fine. Neither one of our reactions is wrong, they are both right. Why? Because we are both different and are responding to the situation differently.
So no, not a single one of your problems is "unimportant" and no, you are not overreacting. Just because it could be worse, doesn't mean that you can't feel pain because of how things are now. It's ok to be aware that things could be much worse, but that should not be a reason for you to think that what you're facing now has no value.
We are all human, different kinds of situations in life have the capacity to hurt us, make us cry, make us want to give up and throw in the towel...and that's fine. We are fighting some sort of battle and no battle is ever too small.
~ Diana :)
One thing that I have always struggled with is thinking that my problems are not "big" enough or "important" enough for people to ask about them, or to help me out with them. I was talking to my little brother a couple of nights ago and he feels the same way about his problems, then I started to think of this little phrase and I realized why I love it and hate it.
I love it because it gives you perspective, in the midst of your struggles it helps be thankful that this is what you're facing and not anything else. I think it's a good phrase to remember when you're in a really sucky situation, and I think that whoever came up with it meant it that way, it could be worse but thank God it isn't. It usually helps me remain thankful to God. It helps me remember that I am blessed beyond measure.
But here's why I hate that phrase, because when we use that phrase, 99% of the time we use it in this way: it could be worse...therefore I CAN'T complain or cry about my situation, this is nothing compared to what other people are facing. Man I can't tell you how many times I've misinterpreted this phrase and used it in this way. This is NOT what it means, it is not the purpose of that phrase.
Yes, it could be worse. Yes, other people are struggling in ways that we could never imagine. No, that does not mean your problems are not important. We tend to label problems as "little" or "big", the reality is that a problem is a problem, simple as that, and all problems lead to a solution. All problems are IMPORTANT. I mean it guys, if it matters to you then it matters, and if it matters then it has meaning. I am not saying this for you to be consumed and overwhelmed by how many things are going wrong in your life, I am saying this for you to realize that you're not overreacting and you're not being a drama queen, you're having a normal, human reaction to normal, human situations.
You are entitled to your own reactions to your circumstances. Humans react differently to different environments and we perceive things differently. To put my point into perspective I'm going to give you an example: my best friend is terrified of heights and she will cry if she has to be too up high somewhere, I am not terrified of heights but they do freak me out a little. If we were both sitting on the Giant Drop at Six Flags, she would probably be really scared, while I would be just fine. Neither one of our reactions is wrong, they are both right. Why? Because we are both different and are responding to the situation differently.
So no, not a single one of your problems is "unimportant" and no, you are not overreacting. Just because it could be worse, doesn't mean that you can't feel pain because of how things are now. It's ok to be aware that things could be much worse, but that should not be a reason for you to think that what you're facing now has no value.
We are all human, different kinds of situations in life have the capacity to hurt us, make us cry, make us want to give up and throw in the towel...and that's fine. We are fighting some sort of battle and no battle is ever too small.
~ Diana :)