Personal Priorities – recognizing your need for change

I received a note from a colleague this week, saying she was taking time off in order to be with her family.  I honoured that, and her clarity on knowing what comes first.

I myself, and many of my clients, often forget to do this. We end up noticing only when we’re exhausted or our body breaks down. You’d think we’d learn, but we don’t.

Why not?

I believe it’s partly cultural – what we’ve been taught is good, partly what we’ve gleaned from our parents, and also – maybe mostly – our own lack of self-confidence and sense of self-worth. Have we done enough – whatever that is? Have we checked off every possible box, looked for anything that may be hidden? Have we forgotten something? Have we tried absolutely everything we could possibly think of?

The answer will always be NO! We haven’t checked absolutely everything, because that’s actually impossible.

I’ve come to realize, at least for myself, that if there’s that much resistance and lack of recognition for what we’ve contributed, it has nothing to do with missing something, or lack on our part. No matter what we do, or hurt ourselves trying to do, it will never be enough.

At that point it’s time to leave. It’s time to turn towards people we care deeply about and who care deeply about us.

I know it sounds defeatist, but I don’t believe it is.

I focus on helping people who are like me. I know I have skills and experience to truly help them, and I get a burst of pure joy every time I do. I focus on being with and supporting those I love in my life.

I want to learn to do more of that and less of sacrificing my energy to those who don’t really care.

What about you? Is it time?