Confidence can carry us through uncertainties when employed with intention and care. Taking care of ourselves mentally is a necessary part of total body wellness and feeds the forward momentum of our goals. Our Vice President of Well-being, Dr. Jada Jackson Hill, knows how being stalled can propel alienation. She says “individuals who are struggling are more at risk of feeling isolated by their perceived lack of success, and this alienation can obscure their paths to advancement.”  

When the isolation we feel while entering into a challenging time in our lives can block our momentum, it is important to turn the tide and come back into a position of control and wellness. It is part of the human experience to take a cue from those around us who have struggled and conquered their challenges when we aren’t sure what step to take next. 

So, What Next?

Recognizing the commonalities in our ambitions and the ambitions of those around us can be a satisfying first step to getting ourselves back in the driver’s seat of our emotions. Many of our peers are striving for similar goals of security, stability and happiness that we are, especially those who work in similar fields. Hearing the experiences they have lived through can be a vehicle of inspiration to us as we cultivate our own journeys. 

When we take the time to reflect on the aspirations of those around us, we widen our world view and begin to see others as cohorts in our mutual ambitions. Everyone is working toward something, and knowing how diverse those goals can be can give us a great deal of personal perspective. Even if we are not able to discern a solution from the personal experience of someone else, feeling a sense of being “seen” and understood can clear our head long enough to alter our sense of direction. 

The feeling of being validated by someone else’s story adds to our own wealth of life experiences and opens the door for us to one day share our triumphs with someone in a similar position. This cycle of wellness benefits every person we come in contact with and betters our social surroundings as a whole.

In The Same Boat

Knowing that our peers are moving in similar directions as we are means that many of our tactics for dealing with our stressors will have some similarities. Hearing from someone who wanted the same goal you did, but took an alternative route to get there can give us inspiration for our own tactics. For instance, someone feeling the stress of time management at work can benefit from the lessons learned by a peer trying on different solutions. 

When we are already struggling with the fear of the unknown, adding more insecurity can feel like a step we are incapable of making. Listening to the risks others have taken and seeing them gain, perhaps not a total success, but knowledge can empower us to feel like our chances of succeeding are higher because we are armed with the lessons they shared. In this way, we feel less alone, combating our feelings of isolation, and making a way forward seems that much closer. 

 Better Together

We do not always have to completely hit our mark to be happy. Feeling fulfilled can be as simple as believing in our ability to learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of our peers. Instead of viewing those experiences as “shortcomings” we can see them as opportunities for growth and wisdom, and one day able to be shared with a peer in a similar position. By connecting with others, we can all learn to be a bit more forgiving of ourselves and find the support that we all need.