I'm always startled when I have a client state, "You struggle?! You just seem to have it put together and figured out. I assumed nothing was wrong in your life." This happened yesterday. I smiled and replied "I'm a human being just like you, with my own struggles. I do my own work so I can be better at helping others work with their struggles."
It's a good reminder about something we all do - comparing our lives to others and usually assuming they have it all together, while we are just floundering. As a mental health counselor, listener and observer, human being, I can honestly say we all struggle. No one is "perfect." In fact, being human with all of our strengths and challenges, IS perfect (mull that one over). When we compare, we are judging, and keeping ourselves stuck in a cycle of negativity that just keeps building. To escape our own negativity, we start projecting on others, lashing out with anger, judgment and resentment. Those layers of negativity push us further and further from meeting ourselves with love and compassion.
Why am I human?
- Even though I''m a mental health counselor and I deal with anxiety, seasonal depression, feel hurt, have self-doubt and fear. I'm not immune.
- Embracing all the above, I've learned I have choices with the voice I go with, I can be kind to myself and give myself a break, I can be flexible with myself - not just for others, I can practice gratitude, I can pause and take time for myself...the list of choices and ways of coping is endless.
- I fall prey to "not good enough" and when I do, I've learned this is when my mind races, I push, I stop the coping tools that help me stay centered, I feel tired, and my schedule is jam packed.
- I'm learning! The more I incorporate daily practices - physical, mental and spiritual, I create change, feel more content, and "not good enough" doesn't come around as much. I love the saying, "It's a practice, not a perfect."
We are all human! The more we embrace all that comes with it, realize we aren't alone and actually quite normal in our sufferings, meet ourselves and others with kindness, and make a conscious effort to come from love and compassion rather than fear and anger - we will be able to meet life as it is, with more equanimity.
When you find yourself assuming another person has it all figured out, remind yourself they are human too and we can all learn from each other. Commit to yourself that judgment, taking things personally and beating yourself up don't have room in your life and start the process of evicting them from your mind. It's a process...
I'm not perfect, I'm human and I'm so grateful to have this experience each day. It's something to celebrate!!
It's a good reminder about something we all do - comparing our lives to others and usually assuming they have it all together, while we are just floundering. As a mental health counselor, listener and observer, human being, I can honestly say we all struggle. No one is "perfect." In fact, being human with all of our strengths and challenges, IS perfect (mull that one over). When we compare, we are judging, and keeping ourselves stuck in a cycle of negativity that just keeps building. To escape our own negativity, we start projecting on others, lashing out with anger, judgment and resentment. Those layers of negativity push us further and further from meeting ourselves with love and compassion.
Why am I human?
- Even though I''m a mental health counselor and I deal with anxiety, seasonal depression, feel hurt, have self-doubt and fear. I'm not immune.
- Embracing all the above, I've learned I have choices with the voice I go with, I can be kind to myself and give myself a break, I can be flexible with myself - not just for others, I can practice gratitude, I can pause and take time for myself...the list of choices and ways of coping is endless.
- I fall prey to "not good enough" and when I do, I've learned this is when my mind races, I push, I stop the coping tools that help me stay centered, I feel tired, and my schedule is jam packed.
- I'm learning! The more I incorporate daily practices - physical, mental and spiritual, I create change, feel more content, and "not good enough" doesn't come around as much. I love the saying, "It's a practice, not a perfect."
We are all human! The more we embrace all that comes with it, realize we aren't alone and actually quite normal in our sufferings, meet ourselves and others with kindness, and make a conscious effort to come from love and compassion rather than fear and anger - we will be able to meet life as it is, with more equanimity.
When you find yourself assuming another person has it all figured out, remind yourself they are human too and we can all learn from each other. Commit to yourself that judgment, taking things personally and beating yourself up don't have room in your life and start the process of evicting them from your mind. It's a process...
I'm not perfect, I'm human and I'm so grateful to have this experience each day. It's something to celebrate!!
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