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Episode 3 - Update On How I'm Doing · Cloud 9: The Mental Performance Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome back to CloudK9.
• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Lindsay Eisenhart.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: In my last episode, I talked a lot about homesickness.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: What it's like, and some advice to help you through it.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: So in today's episode, I wanted to give you guys a little update on how I've been doing since then.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: What the past few weeks have looked like, and honestly, just where I'm at mentally right now.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: So with that being said, let's get into today's episode.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: Being down here still hasn't necessarily been easy.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: I definitely still have my moments where I miss home, my family, my friends, and just the comfort everything that I've known my entire life.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: But at the same time, I can genuinely say that each day has gotten a little bit easier.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: My homesickness hasn't completely gone away, and I don't really expect it to.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: But it's becoming a lot more manageable.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: I'm starting to feel more comfortable with Tallahassee, Florida State, my classes, the people around me, and just my new routine in general.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: And one of the biggest things I'm learning through it all is that I don't need every day to be easy in order to know that I'm going to be okay.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: There are going to be hard days.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: There are going to be days where I really miss home and I really wish I could go back to Maine.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: But I also know that every one of those days is giving me an opportunity to grow.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: One thing I'm really focusing on since I got here is taking care of my mental health and figuring out what I personally need to do in order to be in a good place mentally.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: And probably one of the most important things for me has been my faith.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: I've been really relying on God throughout this entire transition.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I went from living in Maine my entire life, surrounded by my family, my close friends, and everything that was familiar to me, to suddenly living more than a thousand miles away from that, all of that.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: That's a huge adjustment.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: And my faith has given me something to lean on when things feel uncomfortable or uncertain.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: But at the same time, I feel like God has been challenging me to step outside my comfort zone.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: And honestly, I think that's something I've needed.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: Since being here, I've met so many great people and had opportunities that have pushed me outside of my comfort zone to meet new people, try new things, and become more comfortable with being uncomfortable.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: Another thing that has helped me a lot, and this might sound really simple, is going for walks.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: Back home in Maine, I loved going for walks.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes I put my headphones in, listen to my music, and just walk by myself.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: Other times I'd go with friends or family.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: It was always something that gave me a sense of peace, especially when I was stressed, overwhelmed, or just needed to clear my head.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_00: So I've tried to bring that down here with me.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: Over the past few weeks, those walks have been something I really rely on.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes I'll go with someone I've met here, and other times I'll go by myself with my headphones in.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: It gives me a chance to slow everything down.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: It helps me clear my thoughts, calm my anxiety, and honestly just reset my mood.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: I think having something familiar like that in such an unfamiliar environment has been really important for me.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: I've also made it a priority to stay connected with the people back home.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: I talk to my family and friends pretty much every day, whether that's through texting, FaceTimes, or phone call.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes it's literally for five minutes.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: Other times we're talking for an hour.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's helped remind me that moving away doesn't mean I'm losing those relationships.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: They're still there.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: The people who bring me joy, comfort, and a sense of home are still a huge part of my life, even if they're more than a thousand miles away.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: But probably the biggest mindset I've been trying to have throughout this semester so far is really simple.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: One day at a time.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: I've caught myself thinking way too far ahead before, thinking about the entire semester, where when I'm going home next, how long I have been away for, or wondering, how am I going to do this for months?
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: And when I think like that, everything feels so much bigger and more overwhelming than it actually needs to be.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: So instead, I've been trying to wake up and ask myself, what do I need to do today?
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: That's it.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: Not next week, not next month, not for the rest of the semester.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Today.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: What classes do I have?
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: What work do I need to get done?
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: Who can I spend time with?
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_00: What can I do for myself?
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: How can I make today a good day?
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: Taking things one day at a time has helped me stay in the present instead of constantly worrying about the future or getting caught up in the anxiety of what could happen.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: And it's also helped me recognize how fortunate I am to be where I am.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: I'm at Florida State University studying something that I'm extremely passionate about and a highly regarded program.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: This is an opportunity I worked really hard for, and I don't want homesickness or fear to stop me from appreciating what I have right in front of me.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: I've been here for just under a month now, and when I think about the person who first got here compared to where I am today, I can already see growth.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's pretty cool.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_00: Do I still miss home?
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: Do I still have difficult moments?
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: Of course I do.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: But I also don't regret my decision to come here.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: I know that I'm supposed to grow through this experience, even if that growth feels uncomfortable sometimes.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: And maybe that's the biggest thing I've learned so far.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: Something can be hard and still be good for you.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: You can miss home and still enjoy where you are.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_00: You can be uncomfortable and still know you made the right decision.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: You can have a hard day and still be making progress.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're listening to this and you're going through a transition of your own, whether that's moving away from college, starting a new job, leaving home, or just entering a new season of life, I hope you give yourself some grace.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: You don't have to have everything figured out right away.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: Find the things that bring you peace, stay connected with the people you love, lean on your faith, put yourself out there even when it's uncomfortable.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: And most importantly, just take it one day at a time.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you guys so much for taking the time to listen to today's episode of Cloud Nine.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: I genuinely appreciate every single person who takes the time out of their day to listen.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: I'm excited to keep sharing this journey with you guys the good days, the hard days, and everything I'm learning along the way.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: Stay tuned for more episodes, and I'll talk to you guys soon.