It’s so easy to become discouraged as moms. Whether we’re facing trouble in our home lives, workplace drama, or everyday annoyances, there IS hope! No matter where your frustrations are coming from, here are 5 tips for fighting discouragement from the beautiful Trista Laborn of A Driven Wife. We’re praying these tips are encouraging for you today — right where you are!
When it comes to being a mom, wife, entrepreneur and everything in between, and in all my years of navigating those roles, discouragement has always raised its head to stop me in my tracks. But, along the way, I’ve learned to recognize the signs of such an attack and keep going.
Let me share with you five tips for fighting discouragement in every area of your life:
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As always, I am not a health professional, and I do not play one on the internet. I am simply a mom sharing her best tips and tricks for supporting her family’s health and wellness. Always talk with your doctor before beginning a new wellness routine — bonus points if you can find a holistic practitioner or Functional Medicine doctor near you! View my complete terms & conditions here.
1) Change your perspective.
Sometimes how you view things can make a HUGE difference when you’re feeling discouraged. Remember the old saying, “When God closes one door, another one opens”? Another way to put it is, “Even though this door closed, God is merciful, kind and knows all things; He will open another door.”
Don’t give up because one door closed.
Scripture says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Even when it doesn’t seem like it in the moment, God WILL work it out!
2) Surround yourself with Godly men and women.
Talking with people from the same faith community can also bring encouragement. Listening to stories of how others came through hardships and are doing well for themselves now can help bring you through your own discouragement. It’s so important for us to connect with like-minded people who can speak to where we are in our particular situations!
As Scripture reminds us in Hebrews 10:25, “Don’t stop meeting together with other believers… Instead encourage each other…”
Don’t just hole up in your bedroom when you feel down. Let the faithful warriors in your world fulfill their biblical mandate to encourage you!
Are you feeling discouraged? Don't deny others the opportunity to encourage you! Click To Tweet3) Surrender to the feeling of being stuck. (But don’t STAY there!)
At times, our first reaction can be to fight against those feelings of discouragement or try to ignore them and move on, but when you surrender to those feelings, you can ask God questions to help you process why you are feeling that way.
Now, I’m not saying to stay in the pit and give up. I’m saying to dig deep and put a name to exactly what this discouragement feels like for you at this very moment and learn something important from it.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Why am I feeling this way? What is the root cause?
- What does this trial mean for me practically, spiritually, and relationally?
- Lord, what do you want me to learn through this trial?
This strategy helps in a few ways:
One, it can help you identify when you feel discouraged.
The next time discouragement rears its ugly head, you will recognize it for what it is and will be able to deal with it in a healthy way.
Two, it helps you recognize it in others.
Sometimes, we go through rotten times in our lives so that we can help others fight against discouragement or other traumas in life. You can help them others with your struggles. God never wastes our pain!
Three, it won’t stop you from doing what you are passionate about.
When I’m discouraged, I tend to just stop and not do anything, but when I’ve done the hard work of asking questions and identifying exactly what’s going on in my current situation, I can move past it and do what I’m passionate about. The same can be true for you!
4) Take a break, step away from the situation, and give yourself a “time-out.”
Now, I know I just said not to let discouragement stop you from pursuing your passions, but there ARE times when taking a break from the situation is therapeutic and necessary.
Sometimes you can get so caught up in the trenches of building a business, raising a family, or simply living life, that you never actually take time to rest. It can take a toll on you both physically and mentally. You can get so caught up in the hustle that you can’t see what’s actually going on.
Stepping back and taking a much-needed break could be just the opportunity you need to gain a fresh perspective on your situation and begin to see the bigger picture.
Genesis 2:2 tells us, “And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.”
Even God needed to rest! How much more important is it for us mere mortals to rest from all our work regularly?
You may be so caught up in the hustle that you can't actually see what's going on. Don't be afraid to take a step back! Click To Tweet5) If fear is a factor, do it afraid.
Fear is something that can stop you in your tracks.
For example, I am deathly afraid of heights. But a while back, I went on a woman’s retreat that had obstacles courses in the trees. I thought it wouldn’t be too bad, I can do it…
WRONG!
I decided to ride the zip line, thinking it wasn’t too high… until I actually started climbing the stairs to do it and just froze. For about 20 to 45 minutes, the instructor tried to talk me into jumping, but it wouldn’t work… I was so scared that I was close to tears, but eventually… I JUMPED!
Photo courtesy of Trista Laborn
I was scared to death, but I did it anyway. After I took the literal leap down the zip line, I felt excited, happy, and victorious – I conquered that fear! (I wanted to do it again, but it had taken me so long to actually do it that it was already closing time!)
I’m glad it didn’t, but right up until the moment I jumped, it felt like fear was going to win.
But Not in Your Own Power
How many times does God tell us to “Fear not” or Do not be afraid?” In the King James Version, it’s 103 times. In the NIV, 66 times. The NKJV has 129 occurrences, and the ESV has 137. How many times does He have to tell us before we get it??
The important thing to remember here is we never have to “do it afraid” on our own! God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Sometimes, when we go after our passions or get into a situation we haven’t prepared for, it can be scary. It’s uncomfortable, but stepping out into the unknown can grow us in so many ways.
Praise God that gives us His Spirit and power to do it afraid!
*Bonus *
I have one final, bonus tip to help you overcome discouragement, no matter what you’re facing in this season of life: mix up my favorite Encouraging Essential Oil blend!
Essential oils are AMAZING for many mental, physical, and spiritual situations. Your sense of smell can bring up memories, ease stress, and help relax your mood.
If you love essential oils, be sure to grab this FREE EO recipe to help you fight discouragement! Click To TweetEven if you don’t consider yourself “crunchy” or especially “naturally-minded,” don’t let it stop you from embracing this powerful tool to regain a sense of balance in your life and begin to conquer the discouragement you’re now facing. This blend is easy to make, simple to use, and WILL make a difference for you!
To help you begin using essential oils in this context, I’ve created a FREE, downloadable PDF with my favorite discouragement-fighting essential oil recipe for you to have on hand and use whenever you need it. It can be used in a roller bottle or in a diffuser — whichever method works best for you! Just click on the image below for an immediate download of the printable. No email required! 😊
Please note: essential oils are in no way a cure for depression or anxiety. Please seek help from a healthcare professional if you are feeling symptoms of depression or anxiety that go beyond situational discouragement. You can also check out more tips from a professional counselor here:
Which of these tips for fighting discouragement feels most helpful for you?
Let us know in the comments!
Trista a dedicated Marine Wife, Mother of 3, Entrepreneur and everything in between. She is the author and writer at adrivenwife.com where she shares her heart for God, encourages woman, and discusses the ups and downs of the military lifestyle.
Interested in writing for Scattered Woman? We’re always looking for other mamas to collaborate with us! If you have guest post ideas about healing health, finding faith, restoring relationships, or crafting careers, please email laura{at}scatteredwoman{dot}com. We’re excited to work with you!
Thank you for the encouraging post! Time to encourage one another.
Agreed, Kim! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂