Could this be the hardest part of self-compassion?
Knowing our limits and accepting them?
Noticing that we’re tired and accepting that we can’t do everything we had hoped.
Noticing that we’re tired and not doing more than we would usually do, just to prove to ourselves that we can.
Knowing that we don’t have enough support and so paring down what we expect of ourselves.
Do you notice this?
What do you do those days when things feel too much?
Accept it, slow down, nourish yourself and revitalise? Or carry on regardless, maybe even piling more stuff on?
What are the signs that you’re feeling tired? Overwhelmed? Stressed? Anxious? Are you able to get in touch with them or do they overtake you and consume you before you’ve realised what’s going on?
What do you think makes it so hard to acknowledge ourselves and slow down?
What comes up for you when you think about that?
Is it a fear that you might not ever get going again?
The belief that if you can’t do everything there’s something wrong with you? What would that ‘wrong’ thing be?
Where do those ideas come from? What’s led you to believe that you should be able to do everything and more? That you don’t deserve a break?
Is there some competition to it? Looking at what you believe everyone else does and trying to keep up? How realistic is that?
What do you really know about what’s going on in other people’s worlds? Particularly in their inner worlds?
What’s it like to think about yourself as limited? To consider that maybe you can’t do everything? That there’s only so much you can bear? Maybe you could bear a bit more, maybe you won’t fully break, but what’s a life half broken? Why do you want that for yourself?
What would you like your child to learn?
Would you like him to keep exhausting himself? Or would you prefer she take the time to recover, and learn her limits and how to live in balance with herself?
What comes up for you, when you think about this? What were you taught as a child? Why do you think that was?
This can be challenging stuff so take your time, breathe out, leave it for a while, come back when you’re ready. Ask for help when you need it.
What’s come up for you as you’ve read this?
What would you like to think more about?
Does it resonate? In what way?
I’d love to hear what you think. Share your comments below or on Facebook and Instagram.