breathe...
sometimes you just have to realize your own limits. i've been miserable and tired the last 4 days stressing over my presentation for this monday. i had a wonderful time with my mom, shokufeh, and sam who were all visiting for my birthday and lacey's wedding, but the second they left, i realized how little i'd done at work while they were here and how much i had to do before my presentation. so i've been going a little mad over the stressing in my head, trying to get more experiments done (not just done, but get them to be successful), and put together my presentation. yesterday was particularly dreadful as i did an experiment i've been building up to for a year and a half, only to find that it didn't work. but as soon as i stepped out of the building, i took a step back and thought to myself, "it's okay. you'll try again. don't keep pushing to get this done before your presentation. things aren't going to work if you rush through them. it's just not worth it to be miserable like this." so today when i came in, i let go. i took a deep breath and just decided to take it little by little. and whatever happens on monday will happen and i will come out on the end just fine. and maybe with this attitude, i'll actually have a pleasant weekend. one full of work, yes, but not one full of stress.
Comments
you know, meisa joon, i suspect you and i are very similar in terms of achievement behaviors. a strong desire to succeed can often cause stress and i've totally felt that a million times (i'm about to start feeling it again when i start school at the end of the month). but i find that one thing that always helps is to do a quick reality check:
i sit there and think, "hmmmm... i always get it done in the end. no matter how dismal it seems, no matter how little time and energy i think i have, i always do it. and with few exceptions, it turns out well everytime. so even if it's a laborious process getting there, all will be well in the end."
reassuring myself of this usually helps me breathe a little better while i'm doing whatever it is i need to get done. so maybe just reassure yourself a little. i know you'll get it done and it'll be good. and i'll say a prayer for you. :)
Posted by: nas | August 16, 2005 08:24 PM