This is a continuation of yesterday’s post.

One of the first things I HAD to learn on this journey is that it is okay to not be okay.

I am not the only person who doesn’t have it all together. In fact, no one does. At least not all the time.

So that means, it is totally okay to not be okay. A little paradoxical, don’t you think?

But making changes will mean being uncomfortable, on purpose. Creating a better life might look a little messy here and there. Success is not a flat, straight, easy path. It has all kinds of detours and downfalls. It’s rough. It takes guts, courage, intensity and discipline.

Some things I have learned to ask myself when I am struggling with being “not okay” are:

How can I simplify?

How can I stretch myself a little bit in this area?

What is my priority here?

Do I need to ask for advice from someone?

Pain, discomfort… they will be here. They are part of our existence. No matter whether it is intense turmoil and suffering or just the small, daily annoyances that get under our skin.

Life will never be perfect or easy. And if you think “being perfect” or “having it all” is the answer to life’s challenges, you might want to grow up a bit. An adult recognizes that life is complex, that the depth of our world is determined by the challenges we are willing to face and overcome. Life is richer when we become victors.

And no one, not even “The Other Woman” has a perfect life.

In fact, 1 out of 4 women are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication.

Check out a few stats here and here.

It is hard to manage everything. We walk around feeling overworked, overtired, and our resources are overdrawn. Work, family, and household responsibilities don’t leave much time to refresh ourselves. Consistency and prioritizing self-care can quickly become a challenge.

But no matter what our challenge, there are at least a few other people in this world that HAVE faced it successfully. No matter how perfect the Other Woman looks, you can’t know her story unless you ask. Maybe she is one of those struggling depression, pushed to perfection by a feeling of never being good enough. Perhaps she struggles with disordered eating patterns. Maybe she can’t sleep because she is afraid of her nightmares and that is how she gets so much done. No matter what someone appears to be, we are all on this journey together. We are all just trying our best.

And the key to making changes is learning to accept your imperfections and mistakes. That is the only way you can grow and become closer to being the Other Woman.

I believe in you. Let’s journey together.

Shannon Joy