We tend to think of pleasant, comfortable thoughts and feelings as “good”.

Likewise, we tend to think of unpleasant, uncomfortable thoughts and feelings “bad”.

This perception is perpetuated by cultural forces old and new.

We hear sayings like “count your blessings” or “check your privilege”.

We see feeds full of friends’ perfect kids, beautiful vacations, impressive workouts, and bomb-looking meals.

Somebody’s got it worse than we do and everybody we know seems to be doing pretty FN well.

So, everything with us should just be fine.

If we’re not 100% happy with our situations 100% of the time.

If we ever feel down in the dumps.

Like a cloud’s hanging over us.

Like something’s wrong.

There’s something wrong with us.

And these thoughts and feelings should be suppressed.

Silenced.

Ignored.

Sure, there are benefits to practicing gratitude.

To cultivating and keeping perspective.

However, one does not solve any problem by turning a blind eye to it.

Unpleasant, uncomfortable emotions are no different.

They’re not “bad”.

More often than not, they’re simply signals.

Signals that something needs to change.

That there’s a delta between our life and what we want it to be.

Whether it’s your circumstances that needs to change or your expectations is another story.

However, it’s okay not to see sunshine and rainbows 24/7.

It’s okay not to feel 100% awesome all the time.

To want more for yourself.

Making that happen may not be easy.

It probably won’t be.

You might need to do some digging.

To put in some work.

Seek professional help, even.

That’s all okay.

Don’t discredit the role of discomfort and discontent in bringing this to your attention.

In helping you find and work towards what that means to you.

You’re okay.

You deserve nothing but the best life.

You’re worthy.

You’ve got this.