We tend to cope with the demands of life by chasing one deadline after the next, always on the run to success. Resilience is nothing else but having enough energy throughout the day, like a car that can only run with fuel or a charged battery. We are taking care of people we love, we are taking care of our car, we are taking care of our pets. Why is it then so difficult for us to pause and to re-energize? It is because we feel superior not to take care of ourselves. We think we should be perfect. Going for a walk in nature without your cell phone or taking a quick nap is seen as a weakness. But in the end, many of us end up exhausted, become depressed, or even sick. So, don’t neglect yourself, be kind to yourself, or like Marion Woodman wrote it perfectly (as quoted by Stephen Cope in The Great Work of Your Life):
“We can hardly bear to look. The shadow may carry the best of the life we have not lived. Go into the basement, the attic, the refuse bin. Find gold there. Find an animal who has not been fed or watered. It is you! This neglected, exiled animal, hungry for attention, is part of yourself.”
So: take a small step this coming week, and show yourself a little more care, respect and kindness.
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