Playing the Victim

I think it's safe to say that at some point in our life, we have all "played the victim." We have all let a bad situation beat us down and we allowed ourselves to feel hopeless. Yes, I know I am just as guilty of this as the next person. I often find myself asking, "Why is life so much harder for me? Why do I have to try to enjoy myself? Why aren't I as happy as everyone else is?" I fully admit that there are times I play the victim.

I don't always mean to do it. Sometimes, I don't even realize that is what I'm doing. I find that there are days when I truly believe I was dealt a bad hand. If you ask me (and I'm just going to assume you actually want my opinion right now), it's okay to admit that you have a losing hand. We can't be winners all the time. No matter how nice it would be, we cannot expect everything to go according to plan. Sometimes, we have to take a step back and decide how we are going to play our losing hand. As cliche as it sounds, sometimes, we really do have to make the most out of a bad situation.

Because I often find myself feeling down, I have started to think of ways to handle how I am feel, rather than simply getting through it.
1. The most important thing is to acknowledge my feelings. Whether I admit them to a friend or I silently tell myself, I know that I need to accept the way I am feeling. Those feelings are not going to go away just because I refuse to believe they exist. Instead, it is healthier to face them head on. It seems that simply pulling those feelings to the surface, seeing them for what they are, helps me. It takes the pressure off. I don't have to pretend to be something that I'm not.
2. I try to change my mood (not ignore it). Rather that act like everything is okay, I think about the things that really are okay. Literally, I will sit and count my blessing. It definitely makes a difference to remember all the good things in my life rather than focus on the bad. I am a very blessed young lady and when I take time to think about those blessing, I usually realize the bad things in life are rather small in comparison.
3. When all else fails, I talk. I call my mom or close friend. I talk myself through my feelings. I explain why I think the world is unfair to me and I let every negative part of the situation go. I know that I can't always do it on my own so I turn to those around me. The world is not a bad place and I am not always the victim. Keeping my loved ones close reminds me that I am not fighting alone. I have people to support me. Knowing that makes a great deal of difference.

Regardless of how or why you feel the world has wronged you, it isn't worth allowing yourself to be consumed by those feelings. Playing the victim is not the answer. I know this first-hand. Instead, take charge, make a change, and remember that you are loved.