It’s Not This Hard by Kris Gage

We’re not supposed to agonize and feel anxious and read into things and worry about details day to day.

We’re not supposed to overanalyze everything that happens to us, from the text we receive to the interviewer’s expression or why we did or did not make the sale.

We’re not supposed to wonder how things are going. Or how we’re doing. Or whether we’re doing okay. We’re not supposed to question how rock-solid our world is, and whether the whole thing is stable as we hope, or could come crashing down.

We’re not supposed to feel rescued when something small goes our way.(We’re not supposed to want to feel “rescued” at all.)

We’re not supposed to feel devastated when small things don’t go our way.

We’re meant to understand that things sometimes not going how we want them to is life, and not getting our way all the time is part of living it.

But we’re also meant to be surefooted about living the good parts. We’re meant to feel secure in knowing that our partner is there for us for the long haul. We’re meant to feel as though we influence our own work, and that we do work of our own choosing.

We’re meant to recognize that, yes, we did choose.

All of this.

And that we continue to choose — every day.

We’re meant to put in work. We’re meant to put in effort and try at the things that we want most — both love and work and whatever else we set our minds to.

And it’s not meant to be easy, but it’s also not meant to be as complicated as so many of us make it.

Life isn’t supposed to be this complicated. Hard, yes, but not complicated.

Love is exceedingly simple. It takes work and it’s not easy, but the formula is fundamentally straightforward!

And if it doesn’t feel that way, it’s because we’re doing something wrong.We’re overcomplicating it when we shouldn’t be.

If doing anything brings you more anxiety or unease or worry or stress or anything negative than it brings you happiness and peace of mind and comfort and security and whatever else you’re looking for, then you’ve overcomplicated it.

And sometimes it’s as simple as just keeping it simple.