This post was inspired by a stuck-up chair.

Thanks to a recently scheduled knee surgery, my friend Pat ordered an electric lift recliner. It was a very practical purchase intended to give her a lift when needed. As soon as this convenient chair was installed, the darn thing got very stuck-up.

Once it had sprung to the highest of its mobility heights, the motorized chair refused to go back down to the boring, old seated position.

Why in the world would it not do its best to remain up and awesome?

I guess the chair didn’t realize staying up wasn’t mandatory.

I’ve kind of been in the same mode lately.

Even though I’ve been battling a broken heart and a never-ending sense of overwhelm, I have felt the constant pull to be upbeat. The problem is, like Pat’s chair, I am stuck.

In my mind, I feel compelled to always be upbeat and sunny. It’s like my brain keeps telling me to be stuck in an “up” outlook.

Do you ever feel this way?

Do you feel like, “Man, I’ve got so much to be thankful; I have no right to feel down?”

Do you chastise yourself for emotions that are not exactly optimistic?

Like Pat’s chair, are you asking, “Why would I not do my best to remain up…who cares if things aren’t functioning properly?

Here’s what I keep trying to tell myself (and you): You don’t have to be stuck up.

Life is hard, and the challenges we face will bring us down.

No manual for human existence mandates an upbeat outlook or permanent positivity. I’m certain that in some medical document somewhere, it DOES dictate that forced emotion or failing to acknowledge one’s true feelings is unhealthy. There is medical evidence that being stuck up is not good for us.

So the Intentegy challenge for today is to double-check your “stuck up” status. If you (or I) need to take time to reset and not be rays of sunshine, it’s okay.

Don’t be like Pat’s chair. Let yourself be down or get down with your bad self (whichever feels better to you).

It is possible to adjust our perspective and attain healthy emotional heights by allowing ourselves to take a break from being badasses and unstick the sadness, grief, guilt, or insecurity that just won’t shake. We all deserve a lift from time to time. Give yourself the grace to NOT stay stuck acting, speaking, or pretending “up.” We are perfectly imperfect humans. There are going to be times when we need to call in for assistance to help move past whatever struggles we are facing. Make the call, take a break, don’t be stuck up.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. Tech support was called in from the chair company, and the lift was lowered. The chair is no longer stuck up.

P.P.S. I am happy to be your emotional support lift, should you need one.

P.P.P.S. If you see me being stuck up, remind me to avoid acting like Pat’s chair.