Don’t Count Yourself Out: Stop Fucking Around and Own Your Life

Don’t Count Yourself Out: Stop Fucking Around and Own Your Life

Alright, here’s the thing—if you’re sitting around feeling like you’ve fucked up so badly that there’s no turning back, you’re not alone. But, let me tell you, that’s the exact moment when you need to throw the pity party in the trash and get to work. You only get one goddamn life. ONE. And yet, so many of us spend it counting ourselves out. We beat the hell out of ourselves for every small failure, forgetting to give a single ounce of credit for all the stuff we’ve already kicked ass at.

This isn’t some bullshit self-help nonsense you’re going to hear at a yoga retreat. I’m talking real life. The shit that happens between the hangovers, bad dates, or endless hours spent getting your kids ready for school while pretending you’ve got your shit together. We spend so much time measuring ourselves by every flaw, we forget to acknowledge that we’ve been doing a damn good job just showing up every day.

So, why the hell do we focus on the bad stuff?

Take a moment and ask yourself—why do we highlight the negative and skip over all the amazing shit we do? Why do we find it so easy to focus on what’s wrong instead of what’s right? It’s like we’ve got this mental GPS that’s only programmed to direct us to disappointment. Every fuck-up gets blown out of proportion, while we conveniently forget about the times we stood up, put our hands to work, and made things happen.

Relationships are a prime example of this. You could be doing everything right—being supportive, attentive, loving—but the moment you slip up, your mind starts telling you that you’re a failure. It’s like one mistake erases all the good you’ve done. But here’s the thing: nobody’s perfect. And if you expect yourself to be, you’re going to be disappointed. Own your fuck-ups, yes, but also own the love, the effort, and the heart you put into those relationships. You’re worth that recognition.

Parenting—Yeah, You’re Fucking Killing It, Too.

Let’s talk about parenting. Holy hell, if there’s ever an arena where we constantly feel like we’re fucking up, it’s this one. It’s easy to look at your kids and think that if they’re a little off, it’s all your fault. But the truth is, you’re doing better than you give yourself credit for. You’re raising kids who will grow up to be functioning humans (hopefully), and yeah, it’s messy, chaotic, and sometimes you lose your shit—but look, you’re there. You care. You show up. So stop giving yourself the silent middle finger and start giving yourself a goddamn high-five for doing what so many people can’t or won’t.

Recovery—The Road’s Tough, But You’ve Got This.

If you’ve been on the road to recovery—whether it’s addiction, mental health struggles, or just trying to be better every single day—you know that the world will try to count you out. People will say things like, “You’ll never change,” or “You’ll always be broken.” Fuck them. The real challenge is not falling into the trap of counting yourself out. Recovery is not linear. It’s not a straight line, it’s a winding, crooked mess. But each day you get up, you’re proving those assholes wrong. Every small victory counts. Every day you choose to stay in the fight, you’re winning. So, quit ignoring your wins and focus on the fact that you’re still here, still fighting, and still making progress.

Sports—It’s About the Grind, Not Just the Glory.

Whether you’re in a team sport or just lifting weights at the gym, stop pretending like you’re not seeing progress. Yeah, you’ve missed some reps. Maybe your cardio isn’t on fire like it used to be, but you’re not where you were yesterday. You’re doing the work. That’s what matters. This isn’t about being perfect, it’s about pushing yourself, even when you feel like your body can’t handle it. So stop dismissing every damn drop of sweat like it doesn’t count. It all adds up.

Your Thoughts Are A Choice—Make ‘Em Count.

Your thoughts are a choice. You don’t have to believe every piece of negativity that rolls through your head. Just because you’ve failed at something or felt like shit for a few days doesn’t mean it defines you. Stop listening to the bullshit narrative that you’ve written about yourself. It’s like you’re the goddamn author of your own life story—why would you write a depressing chapter when you can write a heroic one instead?

Yeah, life throws punches. People disappoint. You fuck up. But the only thing that matters is what you do next. Will you keep looking down at your shoes, counting your scars, and crying over the things you couldn’t change? Or will you take a breath, remind yourself you’re only human, and get back in the ring?

You’ve got this. Don’t count yourself out. You’re still here. Still breathing. And that’s all the reason you need to fight. Because, remember, you only get one life. And if you’re going to waste it, waste it on doing the damn best you can.

So, stop the bullshit. Get your head in the game. Acknowledge your wins. And never—never—count yourself out.