Is hard. I don't know how many times I have asked myself, "Why is it so difficult to take my own advice when it is so easy to give to others?" Does this or something similar happen with you?
In a previous post, I encouraged readers to "Take One Thing Off...Your Plate" to lighten proverbial mental loads and to lessen stress. This week I tried it myself and took one thing off my plate. Simple? Yes. Easy? Not so much!
Why was it so hard? In a word: expectations. I struggled with the (mis)perception that by taking just one thing off my plate (whatever it was), I was not meeting my own expectations and was letting myself and other people down. Guilt, embarrassment, disappointment crept into my thoughts. Not super fun. As I tried my best to take my own advice, I began to...wait for it...#reframe my self-doubt and negative thoughts and turn them into a positive learning experience. It took a couple of days to do this. Heeding my own advice helped me create some "space between" to:
Start reading a book by Adam Grant entitled Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success. I highly recommend it. It's quite insightful.
Teach my puppy to do a new trick.
Spend some time in self-reflection on improving my awareness.
Take a "mental pause."
This is a short list but hopefully these examples will help if (and when) you are challenged with taking your own advice.
This week, I invite you to give yourself permission, grace and space, to treat yourself as you would your best friends and dearest loved ones. Treat yourself with the loving kindness, patience and advice you give to others. How does that feel?
Until next time, be well.
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