I try my best to stay on top of my “do good, feel good checklist” (moisturizing regularly, practicing gratitude, sipping a green juice every now and then) and these practices have paved the way for a significant change in my perspective. However, some days, I’ll admit that – contrary to what Big Sean says – I just don’t wake up in “beast mode.” I don’t know if I forget to charge my beast port over night or if my beast storage is just full. Maybe I just run out of beast bandwidth every once in a while. Regardless, sometimes, I find that I must start my day on E. My energy’s low, my edges won’t lay, the line at Dunkin is too darn long and the universe is just giving me a full-on stale face. I’m sure I’m not alone in that – and, it’s not like life will ever hit the pause button and say, “Get it together and give me a call when you’re ready, okay?”

So, what can we do? How do you still show up for things when you’re not at 100%? Here’s what I’ve been trying these days:

Remind yourself that this is normal.

There’s just no way we can start every day of our life feeling totally prepared and energized. I struggle with trying to force myself to kick things in gear when I’m in this place. I convince myself that if I just put on some make-up, fill up my schedule and trudge ahead, the spiritual and emotional will level up to the meet the demands of the physical. And, sometimes that works. But sometimes, that crashes and burns. At the same time, it jumbles my internal dialogue with messages that if I’m not always happy and excited, I’m experiencing an abnormality. Moreover, I’m telling myself that if I am malfunctioning, my best bet is to cover it up before anyone notices. Both of those thoughts are dangerous. Remind yourself that what you feel is absolutely normal. It may last all day, it may wear away – but regardless, it’s okay. Rest.

Find ways to show yourself grace throughout the day.

Whenever I’m challenged to meet myself where I am, I swear I take every detour imaginable. I see myself in the distance and speed up my walk, craning my head down as if I’m reading the most important text message of all time.  I am the worst at showing myself grace, yet I need me to show up for myself most – especially when I don’t wake up in beast mode. If that’s true for you, too, consider being a little kinder to yourself on these days. Eat the cake. Wear the yoga pants. Dab on a little BB cream and some gloss to remind yourself that how you feel isn’t who you are. Take care of you and trust the universe to send exactly what you need to make it through.

Don’t forget you have help.

If I had a dollar for every time I thoroughly messed over a day before I handed it to God, my pockets would be on swole. After learning from my fair share of “anti-beast” blow-ups and meltdowns, I’ve started to be more conscious of my help. I try to bear in mind that God genuinely wants to hold my hand and help me through my rough days. I don’t have to work through my own effort. I don’t have to be stuck on beast mode to conquer because He’s already claimed victory over my challenges. Scripture says His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). He wants to bear the weight of my “stuff,” and I’m learning to let Him when the load feels too heavy.

Practice self-awareness.

I feel bad whenever I allow the stresses of my day to leak over onto someone else. On the days when I don’t wake up in beast mode, protecting my energy becomes mission critical. I already have a low reserve, and I don’t want to waste it or lash out by trying to show up from a place of depletion. The biggest lesson I’ve learned on these days is that it’s okay to tap out. Lay low and breathe it out until you have a moment to reset – and fight for those moments to do so. For instance, whether I bring my lunch to work or not, if I’m having an off-day, I always take an opportunity to step out of the office. I ride around, listen to a podcast or stretch in an empty conference room if I just can’t get away. I take a deep breath and pray for the strength to pull through with what I have.

Despite what it feels like in the moment, it helps to remember that those moments never last. It’s not like I’ll never know what it’s like to feel poppin’ again  – the re-up will come. We just have to get there.

How do you deal when you’re not at your best? Write me and let me know!