"Everyone can ..." so fed up

yirara

I'm a bit down at the moment. For some reason Social Media is bombarding me with motivational messages such as

* in a few months you'll laugh about today's run/you'll be much faster/run longer/whatever
* everyone can fast
* everyone can build muscle
* everyone this and that
* Even a friend posted this *kitten* on their feed.

Why it got me: The sheer mass of it. I have a congenital myopathy. I am able to run compared to many, but I'm getting worse instead of better. There's a lot wrong with how my body creates energy as well, thus no: I can't fast unless I'm sleeping and only a bit if I'm being a couch potato. I'm worries about getting older and losing the ability to be active. And this shite stuff just hit a very soft spot I guess. Just want to cry a bit today. Cat photos are appreciated

AdahPotatah2024

One of the many reasons mfp is the only one I use and I was fine w/the retirement of the newsfeed.I don't like people or AI telling me what to think about, be it positive or negative. If anyone I know on facebook wants to send me a meme they have my email and phone #!

yirara

test. Wait.. now my comments have to be approved?!? Yeah, using social media cleanup tools, no public posts, but sometimes stuff gets through. And this time it got me ice cold.

Fursian

Sorry to hear that you're feeling down yirara, I do know exactly where you're coming from.

For me, it's the various motivation type posts (around the internet, not just here) where people casually say things like "It's like when we brush our teeth everyday, we just do it". As innocent and true for many this may be, it hasn't always been for me. Like you, there is energy issues that can make just getting up in the morning a chore, never mind the other tasks that others apparently don't think about.

To be clear, I believe that these are sayings from well meaning people, who genuinely believe that we all just do these, seemingly simple tasks, like it's nothing.

Being medicated did help quite a bit, but it has been a struggle and there is a lot of feelings of shame attached, along with feelings of total failure and hopelessness whenever I see various forms of those "motivational speeches". So, I get it. Are you getting any help yirara?



The cat at the back looks like it has secrets.

Adventurista

Nods, we all have different levels of what we are able to do... and young extreme athlete sports images do not inspire me, i will probably never be able...

People sharing their authentic issues and thinking, here, truly does inspire me...

And perseverance quotes/mantras too, like/paraphrasing 'Start where you are, do what you can and go from there.'

I would add, 'don't fret the rest.'

Like trying on clothes, some fit and are keepers. The rest aren't and i rarely think about those later.

I mention this, i once bought ahead, on sale, a 'goal dress' which got further away the more weight I gained. I realized the more I looked at the end goal, the more impossible it felt, completely discouraging.

I needed to look forward at the now, the realistic doable... and, later, i will tackle whatever... when i get there, whatever it is...

Fwiw... (hugs)

Lietchi

I don't have medical issues, I just have zero natural athletic talent. It took me 4 years to build up to my current level of running and then I see (read about) people running as fast and far as I am in barely a few months. Comparison is definitely the thief of joy!

One of the great destructive myths of our time and culture is how we can do anything we want if we set our mind to it. It's utter bull****.

Kitty hugs from Ziggy!

AnnPT77

I'm sorry, yirara. I think I understand what you're saying. (At the same time, I feel like I contribute to the problem sometimes {{cringe}}.)

I think most broad messaging of any type - including the "anyone can" stuff - inevitably misses the mark for some segment of a general audience.

You? We know you. You work really hard to improve what you can. You seek wily ways around your very real limitations. You have actual character.

The motivational "anyone can" stuff isn't really designed for the rare, strong someone like you. It's more for people who've walled themselves (unnecessarily) into an ultra-tiny rigid box with a plethora of untrue or half true "I can't" self-talk.

I do get why "anyone can" would be dispiriting for you. I think in low moments it is for anyone who works hard but has actual barriers.

yirara wrote: »

test. Wait.. now my comments have to be approved?!? Yeah, using social media cleanup tools, no public posts, but sometimes stuff gets through. And this time it got me ice cold.

It seems like every once in a blue moon, that happens. I don't know why.

yirara

Thanks a lot people. Also thanks for the lovely cat ❤️🥰 I do feel better now. It just hit me at the wrong moment.