In This Online Group, People Post Stories Of People Doing Whatever They Want Despite Their Unfortunate Circumstances
Welcome to the unofficial warm blanket of the internet where pandemic stress is put on hold for as long as you’re there and everything looks just a little bit better. The subreddit called r/GetMotivated welcomes you with a soul-soothing “We’re glad you made it.” Because they know how hard it is to escape the harrowing reality of sad, fake, and plain ‘can’t take it no more’ news.
But here, a whopping 17 million members are sharing all things motivation that promise to “help you finally get up and do what you *know* you need to do.” And sometimes it’s all that you need.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight to the land of pure wholesomeness where strangers who share these motivational posts suddenly become your only support group.
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Absolute Motivation
It Always Gets Better. Just Keep Pressing Forward
The world has been one heck of a ride lately. And even though the cursed year of 2020 is already behind our backs, the new year hasn’t been as forgiving as we hoped. With coronavirus mutations, political turmoil and on-off quarantines and restrictions around the globe, many feel drained like never before.
But although the start hasn’t been that fresh, there’s always a way to keep yourself positive, mindful, and motivated. These three words may sound like something reserved for yoga people, but trust me, it’s all easier than we think. So to find out the secrets of navigating through life when it’s a pain in the rear, Bored Panda reached out to the positivity coach and author of “Positive Young Minds” Lynn How.
Lynn told us that in difficult times, although she felt she was functioning normally, her “resilience to sudden changes or unexpected issues cropping up were suddenly a big thing.” It turns out that without inner strength, our resilience in periods of crisis can be impaired.
Doing Things Poorly Is More Than Worth It
Sometimes Ya Just Have To Ask
Good for you! I work at an aviation college and we have aircraft in our hangar for the students to learn on. When we have a visitor you can just see the look in their eyes "I really REALLY would love to get into that F16 cockpit!" It generally takes very little coaxing from me to make them jump in. You could light up rooms with the smiles - and of course plenty of pictures get taken (as long as no classified info is included).
“Sometimes to add and build that inner strength, you need to let those emotions out as opposed to burying them deep inside (a popular coping mechanism). On many occasions, burying your emotions (which I describe affectionately as Ostrich Syndrome) can be more detrimental in the long term than letting them out.”
According to Lynn, inner strength is the ability to keep getting up when you get knocked down. Incredibly, we all are born with it and it’s the skill we learn in the first few years of our lives when those neural pathways are still developing. If they’re not developed at that time, “then you may find yourself less resilient as an adult.”
You Will Either Find A Way, Or An Excuse
Set Goals And Reach Them
The Last Two Runners In The Pittsburgh Marathon Not Letting Each Other Quit. Obtain Your Goal No Matter What
I ran a marathon a few years back. For non-athletes like me, it's very challenging, very strenuous and many people don't even cross the finish line. So these two are heroes for accomplishing something that most people can't. "Even if you run a mile, it's a mile more than if you never run at all"
Recovery Is Possible And It's Worth It
He Lets Nothing Get In His Way
“All is not lost though, as increasingly, we are finding out more information through recent research about the brain's neuroplasticity.” Lynn explained further: “In simplistic terms, this is the brain’s ability to rewire itself with the correct input e.g. positive reinforcement and therapeutic treatments such as cognitive behavior therapy.”
That means that even though we may not be necessarily resilient in the first place, our brain has the capacity to “rewire itself,” which is essentially to learn resilience even though it never really had it. Very effective methods to do so are positive affirmations and mindfulness practices that everyone can practice at home.
Arnie Says Take It One Step At A Time
Never Let Your Circumstances Define You
If You Change The Way You Look At Things, The Things You Look At Change
Eating with friends and eating alone are both fine. Some days a girl has to take herself out...go to three different places because she can’t make up her mind and has a big appetite. There’s no one or thing to consider except if you should bother wearing pants in the first place.
Eating alone entails enjoying your own company! But if you think someone is lonely invite them to join you.
I love going out to eat or to the cinema on my own. I can eat wherever I like (ok, eat wherever my bank balance likes) or choose the film without a three hour discussion over what to see. The thing I learnt years ago was that the majority of people are so busy with their own lives that they don't really notice a random stranger eating alone.
Eating alone in a restaurant with a newspaper is one of my favorite self indulgences.
I LOVE eating alone. I have to be around people all day at work and a nice lunch, on my own, in a local diner, is an absolute haven for me. I am never lonely and I feel recharged afterwards.
This is my favorite thing to do! I have two kids and a husband that always need something from me (which I do happily). But to and have a lovely meal in peace with a nice book in the sunshine... Well, that's heaven.
Eating alone in a restaurant is my preference. I love it! It is so relaxing.
I felt the same, after a marriage breakdown and other things I had to get up the courage to eat in the restaurant instead of take-away.
my boss is an ashole, he never give us additional bonus again like what he did 5 years ago my boss is great, he once gave us additional bonus 5 years ago.
I like eating my lunch alone. Work is so noisy and busy. It's nice to have quiet for a few minutes.
I have enjoyed times of taking myself to a fancy dinner, or a nice lunch... interesting the folks you meet if you are open. Have fun with it!
I traveled on business for years and ate many meals alone in restaurants. No big deal. There are lots of reasons for being alone in a restaurant. When I was single I often went to the movies and out to eat alone.
This has been said for many years and in many ways and it's still true
In a time before covid, I sat all alone at my favourite restaurant. I remember this day vividly, enjoying a meal and a cup of coffee all by myself. I couldn't have been happier. I had finished work early, my son was still at daycare and fiancé still at work. Absolute bliss.
Eating alone in a restaurant allows you to read, people watch, listen to an audio book, do a crossword, relax, not having to worry about talking with your mouth full...shall I continue? Eating alone doesn't mean sadness or loneliness. It can be very liberating and freeing.
There are plenty of solo restaurants. My dad frequented high-end restaurants alone. Who knows why.
Being alone, I am not allowed to go to a restaurant, to a bar, to the cinema, etc. Gosh, I wish someone had told me earlier. I go alone 9/10 times. It actually produces nice reactions from people. I heard whole stories and I even made new friends. It has made me bolder. It has made me more confident.
Felt strange when I first started doing this out of necessity due to travelling on business. Completely used to it now and it's a wonderful experience. Just don't spend it looking at a phone. Read a book, write notes, be intellectual!
Keep Going
Just Believe
Many people feel like mindful meditation is not for them. Even experts are not immune to that. “I would have nominated myself last year with the ‘person least likely to meditate’ award, but things have changed. I am an over analyzer,” Lynn told us.
“However, now I have set aside 15–20 minutes a day to just 'be.’ I have trained myself to sit in silence with an empty mind. It took a while as when you start to do this, you just think about everything you haven’t done that day (often described as your monkey mind!).”
I Think Talking To Ourselves Like How The Babysitter Did With The Girl, And Having Fun Would Be Good For All Ages!
Never Give Up
Being Human
I really like this. I hope that if I am ever in that position, I will build a Guinness record table.
Broken But Not Useless
This Could Be You. Never Let A "Disability" Or Anyone Else Hold You Back. Achieve
After training to simply be, Lynn said she now can sit with an empty head with zero thoughts and she describes the experience as “very cathartic.” The positivity coach said that “If you don’t fancy the silence, there are thousands of guided meditations on YouTube,” but most importantly, assign some time to yourself.
Apparently I Don’t Need To Pay Money For A Therapist Because Random Instagram Posts Are Calling My Ass Out For Free
Never Forgotten
Everybody Deserves A Second Chance
On This Day In 1943. Give Yourself To A Cause
Thank You, Getmotivated!
It’s Never Too Late To Find What You Want
No Matter How Tough Your Life Is, There Is Always Time For Change
Sometimes You Just Have To Open The Cabinet
Never Give Up On Your Dream
i bet there are thousands of pictures similar to the left picture. But there is only one schooling. Pick your rivals carefully
Helping Those Around You Will Benefit You Greatly
True Teacher
A science teacher from rural Kenya who donates most of his salary to help poorer students has been crowned the world's best teacher and awarded a $1 million prize, beating 10,000 nominations from 179 countries.
Please Live By This, No Matter What
Yes! Some people are just hanging by a thread. Please don't be the one to push them over the cliff.
My Recovery From Addiction - My Name Is Hunter Michael Shepard And I Am An Addict In Long Term Recovery. If You’re Struggling Today Just Know There Is Hope. Put The Dope Down And F**king Crush Life. You’re Worth It
We All Have To Start Somewhere
Rebirth
Guiding Your Way Out
It’s okay to give yourself some downtime, but it’s important to know/realize when to get up/ get help/ start pulling yourself together. It’s a very narrow and incomplete view of struggling and pulling yourself out of that place. Please comment and add to this. The tools I use may not work for another person and it may not be helpful to me for the next funk I get into, so I’d like to learn and have more in my arsenal. I have begun hitting the gym again, wearing some lingerie/dresses, eating and visiting people I trust and worth the risk (no immune compromised or in direct contact of such a person), and hopefully catch up on some reading and checking out art exhibits. Communication is exhausting but worth it for the right people; same goes for vulnerability.
In 2006 My Boyfriend Asked Me An Epic Painting For His Birthday. 10 Years Later I Decided It Was Time To Finally Do What I Really Wanted. I Quit My Old Job And Started To Learn How Tho Paint. I Never Stoped Since Then! And I Painted Him Updated Versions Over The Years
Time Flies - Do What You Love
You Can Do It
Never Give Up On Healthy Habits
Love it! Another good one is: "Workout because you love your body, not because you hate it"
Be Your Own Hero
There Is No Rush
Be Intentional With What You Think About
I'm afraid of becoming a neurotic mess. Oh look, I'm a neurotic mess!
Measuring Success
Live Your Life
Love Yourself
Be Happy Alone First
Found In A Small Hostel In Albania
This Trucker Who Takes His Weight Rack With Him To Work Out At Truck Stops Makes No Excuses!
For All The "Failures, Disappointments, And Screwups" Out There
How Bad Do You Want It
My problem with this is that it is naive and fully ignores reality. In reality, sometimes doors are slammed shut in our face. Real bravery is choosing another path, not clawing at the closed door.
Note: this post originally had 90 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
This is great but I would like it if people really understood the true core of procrastination. It has a mental component. We should stop saying "if you truly want it you'd do it". We need to understand that success can look like getting out of bed that day, having a well fed family, a happy pet, a clean home, good relationships. I know that their are people who understand this I just want to say it as well. It's okay if you weren't accepted into an Ivy League school even though you tried. You can be successful without those schools. Nowadays truly loving yourself is a form of success. If you ask me it's the most important type of success
This is a good comment. Thanks for the reminder. I thought being a garbage collector in high school was a success story all by itself. That's a good job that does a lot of good in this world.
Load More Replies...I did a girls on the run in elementary even thought I hate running. At the end of the year we run a 5k but I was one of the last people in my group because I was super slow. The mom who help run it stayed with me. Its been almost ten year and I will never forget what she did.
I did that too! I really did not understand the point but it was really empowering looking back
Load More Replies...This is a really nice collection. I'm feeling a lot more positive after reading through these :)
i would love my two books to sell, it took me years to get the confidence to put my ideas out there, one is called The Riveters about the men that died building Titanic and the other is called Searching For Santa about what would happen if santa quit his job, avail on Amazon.
You wrote two books, that in itself is amazing. I am really proud of you! Please keep writing and sharing your gifts with the world!
Load More Replies...Just remember that even if life has you down..life is probably trying to push you to something better.No matter how bad life gets it'll get better ^^ just wait and it'll get better(if you don't get it..life is pushing you down to something better...sorry thought i might explain so everyone gets it :D)
This is great but I would like it if people really understood the true core of procrastination. It has a mental component. We should stop saying "if you truly want it you'd do it". We need to understand that success can look like getting out of bed that day, having a well fed family, a happy pet, a clean home, good relationships. I know that their are people who understand this I just want to say it as well. It's okay if you weren't accepted into an Ivy League school even though you tried. You can be successful without those schools. Nowadays truly loving yourself is a form of success. If you ask me it's the most important type of success
This is a good comment. Thanks for the reminder. I thought being a garbage collector in high school was a success story all by itself. That's a good job that does a lot of good in this world.
Load More Replies...I did a girls on the run in elementary even thought I hate running. At the end of the year we run a 5k but I was one of the last people in my group because I was super slow. The mom who help run it stayed with me. Its been almost ten year and I will never forget what she did.
I did that too! I really did not understand the point but it was really empowering looking back
Load More Replies...This is a really nice collection. I'm feeling a lot more positive after reading through these :)
i would love my two books to sell, it took me years to get the confidence to put my ideas out there, one is called The Riveters about the men that died building Titanic and the other is called Searching For Santa about what would happen if santa quit his job, avail on Amazon.
You wrote two books, that in itself is amazing. I am really proud of you! Please keep writing and sharing your gifts with the world!
Load More Replies...Just remember that even if life has you down..life is probably trying to push you to something better.No matter how bad life gets it'll get better ^^ just wait and it'll get better(if you don't get it..life is pushing you down to something better...sorry thought i might explain so everyone gets it :D)