Give Yourself Permission to Wilt Sometimes

Folks, let me tell you something I’ve learned walking this road of life, knocking on doors both literal and metaphorical: every now and then, the best of us hit a patch where the tank just feels empty. You know the feeling, right? Like you’re dragging yourself through the day, mentally foggy, physically just… drained. The last thing you want to do is put on a happy face for the world, make small talk, or even try to explain why you feel like you’re running on fumes. Sharing anything feels like lifting a ton of bricks.

Now, the first thing I want to say is this: that’s okay. It’s more than okay; it’s perfectly natural. Don’t you let anyone, especially that little voice inside your own head, tell you it’s some kind of failure. Think about it – even the great writers, the ones who poured their hearts out onto the page to lift us up, had their moments. That brilliant Chinese novelist Lao She, a real treasure whose words reached so many, put it plain as day in one of his books: "In this life, who doesn't have times when they feel deeply unhappy?" Shoot, he even admitted in his own private diary on a tough day, "My heart is troubled today; I can't write a single word." See? Happens to everyone. No shame in it.

Think of our spirits, our energy levels, like the good Lord designed the weather or the seasons. You can’t have sunshine every single day, can you? Nope. Sometimes those clouds roll in, things get a bit gray and heavy. And just like you can’t have perpetual springtime – much as we might wish for it! – you need that quiet, reflective time, maybe even that bit of melancholy like a crisp autumn day, to make the next spring feel so fresh and hopeful.

Nature herself teaches us this lesson constantly, if we just take a moment to look. Think about the prettiest flower in your garden, or the sturdiest tree in the park. After putting on a big show, growing tall and blooming bright, what happens? Things quiet down. Leaves might fall, petals might drop. They "wilt," as we say. But is that the end of the story? Not by a long shot! That wilting, that pulling back, that’s nature’s way of saying, "Okay, time to rest up, gather strength underground where nobody sees, and get ready for the next big push." It’s essential. It’s smart. It’s how things endure.

And believe you me, we humans aren't so different. We’re out there every day, hustling for our work, caring for our families, trying to be good friends and neighbors. We put on that smile, keep things moving, often carrying a whole lot of weight inside that nobody else sees. It's admirable, it truly is. But you can only run the engine full throttle for so long. Eventually, something’s gotta give. When you hit that wall, when the tiredness washes over you and your emotions finally say, "Enough!", listen to that. Give yourself the grace, the permission, to wilt for a little while. Pull back. Conserve your energy.

There’s a term folks in psychology use – "self-compassion." Sounds fancy, maybe, but it boils down to something real simple: treat yourself as kindly as you’d treat your best friend. Now, imagine your buddy comes to you, looking absolutely beat, heart heavy, telling you they just feel low. Would you bark at 'em, "Snap out of it! Get back out there!"? Heavens, no! You’d probably put an arm around their shoulder, maybe pour 'em a cup of coffee, and say something like, "Hey, it’s alright. Take it easy for a bit. Rest up. The world can wait." You’d offer comfort, understanding, patience.

Why is it so hard to offer that same simple kindness to ourselves? We know, deep down, that nobody – not the strongest, not the most successful, nobody – can be "on" 24/7, 365 days a year. It’s just not how we’re built. So please, when you feel that dip, extend that same gentle courtesy inward. Tell yourself, "It's okay to pause. It's okay to rest."

What does "wilting" look like for us? It doesn’t have to be complicated. It means letting go of the pressure for a bit. Focus on the basics that keep the engine idling smoothly. Try to eat something decent – doesn't have to be fancy, just nourishing. Get some sleep; Lord knows rest heals a multitude of troubles. Maybe just wrap yourself in a warm blanket – that’s a kind of hug, isn’t it? Put on some music that soothes your soul. Step outside and just breathe the air, feel the evening breeze without needing to do anything. If you need to let things feel heavy for a bit, let 'em. Allow yourself that quiet space to let the knots loosen, to quietly mend, to let that inner battery recharge without feeling guilty about it.

And then, when the time is right – and you’ll know, you’ll feel that little spark returning – you can start to stretch back out towards the sun. You’ll find that energy again, that desire to engage, that love for the simple things in life. It comes back. It always does, if you give it the chance.

Here’s another thing to etch onto your heart: Life isn't about putting on a perfect show. Forget that! It’s about the experience – the ups, the downs, the learning, the growing, the whole messy, beautiful journey. We see so many highlight reels these days, it’s easy to think everyone else has it all figured out. They don’t. We’re all just doing our best, figuring it out as we go. So let go of that need to appear flawless. Be real. Be human.

So, next time that low patch rolls in, like an unexpected cloudy day:

First, hand it over to time. There's truth in that old saying about time healing things. Maybe time itself isn’t the magic potion, but the healing often happens during that passage of time. Give yourself that space. Let the past settle where it belongs. Let new energy gather for a fresh start.

And second, trust yourself. Trust your own resilience. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, even if they feel heavy some days. Trust that as you keep walking your path, things will get clearer. The way forward will smooth out. And trust that those bright spots inside you, those inner flowers? They haven't disappeared forever. They’re just resting, gathering strength. And sure as sunrise, they will bloom again, maybe even brighter than before. Keep the faith in that. Keep the faith in you.