Healing is anything but linear. Whether you’re battling a chronic health issue, mental health, or simply leaning into self-knowledge and trying to level up, you probably know what it’s like to see progress ebb and flow, seemingly without reason.

I know it. I’ve said it a million times. Still, there is a small part of me that feels confused, disappointed, and swindled by the universe when my healing slows or when I experience a setback. Because I have a feeling I’m not alone in this, I decided to share some of the ways I cope with discouragement. Here are 5 actions that help me to weather the proverbial storm and keep myself from acting from a place of discouragement.

Recently, I had to employ these things when a trip to Mexico left me with not only the usual gut issues from international travel but caused a flare in some chronic infections and left me feeling like a shell of a person again. Again, I found myself napping daily (not the luxurious kind, but the kind you can’t resist because you’re tired in your bones and your eyelids keep involuntarily shutting), feeling discouraged, and losing sight of my progress and positive trajectory.

Here is what I did:

• PAUSE. In the past, I might have freaked and started pursuing any and all options for solving my perceived renewed health problem, spending money, time, and energy going down rabbit holes that only sometimes yielded results. Now, I pause when I get discouraging results or start to feel like old symptoms are returning. I allow myself time to assess the situation from a less emotional state and give my body time to perhaps rebound on its own. That may mean taking a day or an afternoon or a few days to simply observe and listen to myself. It is incredibly powerful and hugely important to mental resilience to be able to sit with discomfort and not simply numb or try to fix it so it goes away. Sometimes, all my body needs is a little time and rest to sort out a random issue.
• DOCUMENT. I am sure to document any new feelings, symptoms, data, or provider opinions that indicate an issue. I keep a log of my energy, appetite, water intake, physical activity, and diet, and it is really helpful in making reasonable decisions to drive my health journey.
• FOSTER MENTAL HEALTH. I can’t speak for every instance or every person, but I have found that when my health dips, my mental health often needs a little extra TLC. This means giving myself time alone, writing, resting, meditating, practicing breath work, sitting in gratitude, and spending time in front of my red light panel. Sometimes the extra focus on mental health sorts out my physical health, and sometimes it simply gives me the foundation from which to move forward in strength and wisdom.

• REASSESS HEALTH PROTOCOLS. Once I’ve taken time and given myself the care I know I need for baseline health, I consult my trusted healthcare professionals for insight and work with them to reassess my diet, workout routine, schedule, and supplement protocols. I often find that there are small things I can do to sort out any discomfort. For example, I recently learned that some of my exhaustion, coupled with gut issues was causing a mineral and electrolyte deficiency. My coach and I remedied this by adding extra LMNT packets each day.
• USE AFFIRMATIONS. My favorite affirmations to return to when I’m discouraged by health setbacks are:
  • I am capable and prepared to heal my body.
  • I deserve to live a healthy life.
  • I have power over my body, and I treat it with respect.
  • I am healed, whole, and healthy.
  • I love my body more every day.
  • I am full of radiant health and energy.
  • I love taking care of myself.
  • I love and respect all parts of my body.
  • I deserve to be fit and healthy.

I hope my tips for dealing with health setbacks are helpful to you, and I’d love to hear how you deal with your own health setbacks! Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me on Instagram at @bailey_bowerman !

xoxo Your Favorite Late Bloomer