When Clapping for Others Starts to Hurt

Written by Rittah Mmonadibe   

  Edited by

Tshidi M Wyllie ( PhD).

  “Rejoice with those who celebrate, and weep with those who mourn” is a common phrase, but how easy is it to live by it? What makes it difficult to celebrate the success of others?

    Often we are  told to celebrate the success of others, cheer them on and  wholeheartedly be happy for them. What  happens when you’ve been clapping for so long that your hands start to hurt? What happens when everyone else seems to be moving forward and you feel stuck in the same place?.

     When you feel stuck and find it difficult to celebrate, It does not mean that you’re not happy for them, you are, however, deep down, there’s a subtle ache and silent inner voice that whispers; ‘When will it be my turn?’

     If this is you,  know that your feelings are valid. You are not bitter; you are human. It’s okay to celebrate others while also noticing and acknowledging the longing and desire to celebrate your breakthrough. It’s okay to experience mixed emotions , feelings of joy and sadness at the same time, which often  occurs when you compare yourself with others. Most importantly, it’s okay to admit, notice and identify the emotion related to the trigger.

      #Remember; your journey is not over. You are still maturing, growing, evolving personally and in your career, and hopefully one day things will change. Clapping for others and the delay you are experiencing does not mean your success will never come; where there is determination and hope, there will eventually be a success to celebrate, and when that moment arrives, there will be many hands ready to clap for you; the same hands of everyone that you have been clapping for over the years.

       Right now the weight of waiting may feel too heavy and unbearable, focus on the positives going on in your life, shift your focus from the negatives, practice positive self talk, and if you feel like talking to someone , we are here for you. You don’t have to navigate it alone.

Visit and Support our Podcast at : https://www.buzzsprout.com/ 1813802/supporters/new