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Female hiker sets backpack down on grassy hillside feeling discouraged lighten your load

Feeling Discouraged? Lighten Your Load

/6 Comments/in /by Mary Hunt

Feeling discouraged? In life’s journey, the weight we carry can sometimes overwhelm us, hindering our ability to move forward with ease. Whether it’s tangible possessions or intangible fears and doubts, the weight we carry can make our journey more arduous than it needs to be. It’s time to let go of the heaviness that holds us back and rediscover the joy of living unencumbered.

Female hiker sets backpack down on grassy hillside feeling discouraged lighten your load

As flights go, it was ordinary. Still, the trip stands out in my memory as one of my all-time favorites. That’s because I traveled light.

I flew to Dallas in the morning, participated in a luncheon event, saw the sights in the afternoon, and returned home later that evening. It was so easy—no luggage, no baggage check, no carry-on, no umbrella, coat, or duffel bag. No computer or bag search. No straining to hoist all of that heavy stuff into the overhead compartment. No weight to carry, no hassle to bear—just pure freedom and ease.

The Weight That Wears Us Down

There’s something to be said about traveling in such a way. For serious cyclists, the difference between winning and losing can come down to a simple matter of weight and quite possibly the reason we didn’t see Lance Armstrong towing a little trailer filled with snacks and cold beverages.

My point—and yes I do have one—savvy cyclists and climbers are keenly aware of the weight they’re carrying and are always looking for ways to shave a pound here or an ounce there. They know the success of their endeavor depends on their ability to reach their goals without delay and to finish the course.

And so it is with you. The heavier the load, the more difficult the journey and the more trouble you’ll have reaching your goals. Heavy burdens make it difficult to keep up. They can make the journey of life more of a trial to be endured than an adventure to be enjoyed.

Review Your Load

Are you enjoying your journey or are you feeling discouraged and about to break under the weight of all of that “luggage” you’re trying to maneuver down the road of life?

Take a moment to review your load. You can divide everything you are carrying into two categories: tangible and intangible. Among your tangibles might be too many possessions, heavy debt, dozens of credit accounts, mountains of clutter, an overcommitted calendar, and so forth. Under intangibles, you might need to list perfectionism, fear, doubt, guilt, worry, and regret.

Release What Is Not Yours

It is possible you’re trying to manage burdens you were never meant to pick up in the first place. Take, for instance, the heavy weight of regret. It serves no purpose but to drain your energy and hold you back. The past is behind you; it’s time to release it and move forward unencumbered.

Confront your fears and doubts head-on, and decide to leave them behind. That trunk filled with worry? It doesn’t belong to you. Set it down and walk away. As for debts, tackling them may seem daunting, but every small step toward repayment brings you closer to financial freedom and control. Embrace the journey of unburdening yourself, one step at a time.

Renew Your Mind

Each day presents a choice: how will you approach life’s challenges and joys? Elaine St. James in her book, Simplify Your Life, says, “Wise men and women in every major culture throughout history have found that the secret to happiness is not in getting more but in wanting less.” True happiness isn’t found in accumulating more, but rather in desiring less.

An endurance race is hard enough when you’re running light. But it’s far harder, and often impossible if you’re trying to run while lugging around extra stuff. Competitive long-distance runners lay aside everything except what’s absolutely necessary. That’s what we need to do too.

Even in moments of feeling discouraged and as though your life is completely out of control, you can be sure of this: If you want to soar high, you need to take a serious look at all the baggage you’re carrying. Then lighten up!

 

Question: Feeling discouraged? How do you hit pause and take a breather? Let me know in the comments below.

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6 replies
  2. Cally Ross says:

    I needed this too. losing my husband, of 38 years, over two years ago has changed my stress level tolerance, my frustration level is very low, and I’m always looking for ways to deal with stress, and the sad/ugly parts of this world. In my heart I know the battle is 99% mental! So, prayer and Bible reading is a must!

    Reply
  3. Barbara Jackson says:

    Perfect for today’s post: “Never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles.”​—Matthew 6:34.

    Reply
  4. Valencia Whitehead says:

    This was meant for me–truly a blessing–thank you! I’m in the midst of a purge bonanza to declutter my house. It’s SO difficult for me due to all the nostalgic ties to material things. I’ve decided to make a choice: More peace or more stuff; one will rule the other and I need more peace~

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Great motto, Valencia. Hint: Take a picture of those things with nostalgic ties. You’ll preserve the memories without taking up any space! And all those digital photos will be in one place!

      Reply

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