How to Give Yourself Grace When You're Feeling "Off"

We ALL have days where we're having a hard time feeling creative and inspired and we're simply going through the motions, hoping tomorrow will feel a little better.

For Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) who are often growth and self-development fiends, this can feel like the worst day in the world.

Maybe you want to be there for your coworkers or your family or your kids or your pets, but you don't have the energy to show up as "your best self" today.

Maybe you have something long overdue like a report, a homework assignment, even a simple text or email.

You're going through the motions and then feeling guilty, frustrated, and disappointed about the way you're showing up (or not showing up) in your day.

First, let me reassure you that this feeling is completely normal and okay.

You don't have to force yourself to be chipper and okay.

In fact, faking it often makes the feelings worse because you're not even allowing yourself to fully express them and let them move on. You're not letting yourself be yourself.

So here's how to give yourself grace on those days when you don't feel like you're best:

1) Stop beating yourself up for not being your "best"

Existential ennui is literally a part of every person's life.

Don't beat yourself up that you should feel grateful and happy when you just aren't.

It's okay not to feel your best at times.

It's totally and completely normal.

2) Recognize that this feeling is temporary

There are days when you feel like you could climb a mountain and days when you want to snuggle up with the cat and binge Kingdom Hearts for the 12th time.

If today is one of those days where you'd rather be watching Netflix and eating ice cream than tackling every errand and every phone call on your to-do list, it won't last forever.

This too shall pass.

Whether it takes a few hours, a day, a few days, a week, however long... this feeling will go away eventually.

3) Allow yourself to be your "best" right now

"Best" is subjective and on a sliding scale.

What might be your best ever isn't your best on the day-to-day.

Decide what your best for today is, knowing that you'll have a better day soon.

Is "best" taking care of your commitments with the enthusiasm and energy (or lack thereof) you have today without comparing yourself to your best day ever?

Is "best" letting others know that you're feeling a little low energy, but you still want to do a good job, be there for them, and you'll do what you can with what you've got?

Is "best" letting yourself decompress and recharge instead of trying to do all the things?

Choose what your best is today and then let the rest go.

That's grace.

Full disclosure, I'm modeling giving myself grace this very moment.

I'm at a high-point in my cycle, it's my favorite season and weather (sunny SUMMER!), I'm feeling content with my business, my relationships, and my life.

And yet, today, I'm just not feeling it.

But I still want to show up for you, for myself, and for the future (because who knows when you'll stumble upon this post).

Best for me today looks like being 100% honest that I'm not feeling super inspired and creative.

Best for me today means finding the silver lining (one of my favorite pastimes) and figuring out how that can help you as well as myself.

Best for me means acknowledging that I'm having a very human day, and that's okay. It'll pass.

You're not alone, my friend. Feeling any better?

Big, warm vibes,

Steph