Taking it a step at a time!
Hi everyone! I haven't posted in the self-harm recovery zone and wanted to take some time to talk about recovering from a past of self-harm or any past mental health problem. Recovering can be really tricky to navigate and can also lead us to feel really hopeless. Often more than not, recovery takes a long period of time and many of us just don't have the patience to sit through it.
Taking it a step at a time is crucial to any recovery process. To me, taking it a step at a time means taking the process of recovery gently and just taking it easy. Remember there's no rush to recovering! We often feel the pressure to recover or "get over it" as quickly as possible to get on to other things, but it's important to remember that we deserve the time to figure out our own problems and we have the time to recover no matter what.
Taking it a step at a time also signifies perseverance to me. It means always taking that step no matter what and continuing to take steps towards recovery. Sometimes in the middle of the recovery process, it can start to feel hopeless. It can start to feel as though nothing is getting better and that feeling is truly terrible. Although completely valid and understandable to feel like giving up when that feeling happens, it's important to keep going and to continue taking mini steps to feel better!
Discussion questions
What small steps can you take today to feel better?
What is perseverance to you and why is it important?
What's your favorite outfit to wear and why?
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@TheAtticusFinch
Thank you really for this post Atticus, its such an important reminder and it comes at a perfect time!
What small steps can you take today to feel better?
Ill try to go easy on myself and not feel bad for it. Ill also try not to overthink and worry too much about the next steps ahead.
What is perseverance to you and why is it important?
For me perseverance is to keep trying, even if Im not sure how or if its the right way, I just keep trying and eventually I will get somewhere and what I have done will become useful in time. Its kinda like having one of these thousands pieces puzzles and not knowing what it will represent but still putting together the pieces no matter what.
What's your favorite outfit to wear and why?
A very loose and long tee shirt! Its just so comfy, I wish I could actually go to work like that lol
@LinearWaves
Hi Linear! Thank you for replying hehe. I agree I think we both need to be way easier on ourselves. I too worry about the next steps ahead and forget to stay in the present often. I like that analogy about the puzzle and perseverance! I agree it takes a lot to at least try and complete the puzzle and it's important to remember to never give up. A long t-shirt dress does sound cute and I'm sure you look gorgeous in it! Take care Linear and thank you for responding!
@TheAtticusFinch
Take care too and thanks for replying and you kind words! I hope we can both start watching our current step, instead of watching the next twenty steps lol
@TheAtticusFinch
Hi there ! Thanks for this post. Thoughts like these are quite comforting for me. I often mention small steps so I really relate to this.
What small steps can you take today to feel better? More self care time ?
What is perseverance to you and why is it important? For me it's keeping an eye on the horizon. It doesn't really matter how or when we arrive at destination but we'll get there. The importance lies in the fact that even if I feel like I'm regressing, I'm actually just taking a detour. It's a comforting thought that allows forgiviness.
What's your favorite outfit to wear and why? Baggy jeans and my harry potter t shirts. It's comfy and I love the HP universe :)
@Slizzy564
Hi Slizzy! Thank you so much for responding <3 I think these thoughts are comforting to me too. :) Glad the post could help. Definitely self-care is a great way to feel better! I need some of that too. Omg I love that analogy for keeping an eye on the horizon!! That's literally so clever; gonna steal that from you. :P I love that thought too and I agree that it allows forgiveness which is very important. I love HP too!! JKR has been pretty disappointing lately but I still love the universe. And I wear mom jeans often (which are similar to baggy jeans I think?) so I totally vibe with you!
@TheAtticusFinch
Thank you for the post <3 Hope you get on to that self care soon :)
Be free to steal it, it's my pleasure :) In a way I guess we're all in some kind of treasure hunt !
JKR has been disappointing ... It's funny how someone can write a load of books with many important topics and yet remain uneducated about others ...
Yep definitely similar jeans :)
Have a good day <3
@TheAtticusFinch
I love this post so much! Thank you for writing such a good post on this topic. Recovery is an everyday battle, and everyday you choose recovery takes you a day closer to achieving it. ❤️
One small step. For me when I was at the latter stage of my recovery, a "small" step was always just feeling the urge and surfing it. For a minute, another minute, another few minutes, another hour until it finally disappeared. I let myself feel it, I let myself cry, but I didn't let myself give in to the urge.
Perseverance to me is similar to resilience, in the way that you bounce back. Perseverance is to keep going and keep chasing that goal or dream without letting obstacles win you. Perseverance is pushing through the tough and pain.
@rebecca947
Hi Rebecca!! Thank you for the compliments. I think small steps in small quantities are powerful and I can relate to what you were talking about with the everyday battle and the difficulties of riding out really bad moments in the process of recovery. Letting ourselves feel those emotions you mentioned of crying and pain can be important sometimes and it's actually something my own therapist suggested this week for me to do! Perseverance and resilience are very similar to me too and I also use the analogy of "bouncing back" and pushing through the pain. It takes a ton of courage to do all of this and that's why I'm proud of the entire SHR sub-community for pushing through every day. Thanks for responding Rebecca!
What small steps can you take today to feel better?
Do something just because. I don't do much unless it furthers a specific goal.
What is perseverance to you and why is it important?
It is a bit like water. It will take the shape of whatever it needs. Sometimes is is swift. Sometimes it is so slow it appears to not be moving at all, but it is either fulling up or draining out. With enough time it will cut through stone and shape the countryside.
What's your favorite outfit to wear and why?
I don't really do outfits vanity and that stuff. For me the most practical without standing out. Active hiking shoes, pants cut for movement that have pockets, t-shirt and hat.
@Flornhope
Hi Florn! Doing something is always great.
That's such a beautiful and unique idea of perseverance.. I've never thought of it that way and your message has got me thinking now! 
I like the idea of perseverance being free forming and always going. Your style is very similar to my friends' hahaha, I love it. Thanks for responding today and take care.
Hello!
Thank you for this lovely reminder - it's very encouraging and sweet~
What small steps can you take today to feel better?
I'm going to try doing what I like and what makes me happy, and also to take things easy.
What is perseverance to you and why is it important?
To me, it's pushing through and moving forward, of course~ It's forgiving yourself when you feel like you've done the worst to yourself, and keep pursuing your dreams and goals even if you're doing it slow!! It's important because, truthfully, it's the only thing keeping me around and alive right now ><
What's your favorite outfit to wear and why?
Haha, I just like slipping in something comfortable, like just a blouse + skirt :D
@Hydrangea03
Hi there! Thank you so much for replying to the post. :) I'm glad that you know what you can do to feel better today and I also hope you get the chance to take things easier! I know I need to do that myself soon and I'm glad you recognize that need as well. Forgiveness of self in perseverance is important and I haven't seen it mentioned yet so I'm glad you brought it up! I'm so glad you've persevered through so much and I can relate to that. I hope things are okay for you right now and that you're able to live your life to the fullest <3 love the outfit too!
@TheAtticusFinch !!! Thank you for the check-in as well! :D Stay well~
What small steps can you take today to feel better? - I think just to take it easy on myself. Maybe just take a nap.
What is perseverance to you and why is it important? - I think for me it's because A lot of people look up to me and I want to show them that you don't give up. Learn to rest not to quit.
What's your favorite outfit to wear and why? - I love my jammies haha
@Goldcherry2113
Hi Gold! <3 I'm glad you have decided to take it easy, I need that myself too. It's important to get enough rest so I hope you get that nap in soon! Learning to rest instead of quitting is so important such an important quote that I've never heard so thank you so much for sharing that with me. <3 I also have a lot of people who look up to me in real life and online so I know what you're talking about and I feel that pressure to always persevere sometimes, so be sure it's not too much for you! Jammies are chill and awesome and so are you! <3 Thank you for replying.
