Hello!
I am back and it has been so long since I have updated this blog.
I have been very busy and I ebb and flow with social media and the like. But over the months, I have created so many lessons and a lot of content for my clients and I intend to begin sharing them here.
Here soon, I plan on adding an ebook to my shop. If you are a client of mine - I will send this to you directly. There are more exciting things on the radar so stay tuned!
I hope you enjoy the content to come and today's post I want to share has been a client favorite!
What it means to be human
As a therapist, many clients come to me, feeling shame for very normal human things. I want to give you the gift of acceptance, normalizing normal human behavior/thoughts/emotions, and help you really click into what it means to be human, so you can grow as the individual you are, with love and acceptance.
1. To be human means to be imperfect. Being the image perfection isn't attainable. Many people struggle with perfectionism in one way or another. Save yourself repeated disappointment by honoring your humanity, rather than rejecting it. Let yourself off the hook. And remember: to do your best does not mean to be perfect. Your best looks different depending on the day, your energy level, etc.
2. To be human means to make mistakes. Ever heard of the quote, "Experience is what you gain directly after you need it." ??? How do we find the answers? Through experience, through messing up from time to time. Mistakes can be gifts that shine light on what you can learn. Fail forward. Get messy. Don't be so hard on yourself. It's how we learn.
3. To be human means to grapple with identity. "Who am I?" A nagging question that changes as you grow .As you grown and go through new experiences, your desires, likes, interests… they change. You learn, you shed, you discover. Sometimes, it can be hard and we don't even know we are going through changes in who we are and we can often feel depressed. "I don't like to draw like I used to..." Sometimes, that can be an indicator of depression, or sometimes, that can be an indicator in changes in identity constructs. Maybe you don't like to draw anymore or don't feel inspired to… but maybe you are curious about music or ceramics. Maybe you don't like to be as social as you used to be, but maybe you are beginning value alone time and the intimacy of one on one time. Be willing to meet every version of yourself in every new season life offers you and also allow yourself grieve who you used to be.
4. To be human means to experience highs and lows. We often hear the analogy of the phoenix rising from the ashes. But, we don't often hear that the phoenix first falls. In life we will experience love and loss, highs and lows. This is normal, and this is also where we begin to grapple with our identity as well: when we fall. To fall is normal. To experience pain and sadness takes time to come back out from under it. And, eventually we are reborn. You'll get the hang of it, then you'll lose your grip again. That is a-okay and perfectly normal. Welcome the lows as you welcome the highs.
5. To be human means to have emotions. Emotions serve as a message, if you choose to listen. Emotions can be your compass, if you choose to listen and learn. Intense emotions can be an indicator something isn't right. Maybe it indicates a boundary that needs to be set or it can indicate that you aren't valuing your self-worth. Listen with curiosity, rather than judgement and you may discover a lot about yourself and your needs.
6. To be human means to need help. Humans are social creatures and we are most in alignment when we are experiencing connection and safety within our environment. We aren't meant to rely solely on ourselves or even solely on a partner or best friend. I always say, "it doesn't just take a village to raise a child, it takes a village to be a well-rounded human." We become like who we spend the most time around, so make sure you are spending your time around people who support, love, and respect you and also make good, healthy choices for themselves. And most importantly: allow your supports to support you when you need it. Note: I am not suggesting codependence here, but I am suggesting you accept love and support from those close to you. It is okay to ask for help and it is strong to ask for help.
7. To be human means to trust your every day deeds really do matter. Greatness and success is not reserved only for those of high status or popularity. Small things we do matter. Smiling at the grumpy cashier, making eye contact with an old school mate (rather than avoid them!) and nodding or saying hi, picking up trash, hugging your partner, offering support to a friend, and offering kindness to yourself all go a long way. I watched a movie as a child that always stuck with me called Pay It Forward. In this story, a little boy wanted to change the world and his theory was that if he could help just 3 people who each agreed to go on to help 3 people and so on it would have a domino effect. I'll save you the ins and outs of the movie if you are interested in watching it yourself, but spoiler alert: at the end of the movie we do indeed see this boy changed the world. If you smile at a stranger, who knows where that smile will end. Maybe across the world. What you do matters. Who you are is important. And the world certainly would not be the same without you here in it.
Hi I'm human, and I am glad you're here.
Like to journal? Enjoy this journal prompt:Simply reflect on this article and write any insights you have. Do you have anything to add to the list of what it means to be human? Let's hear it, comment below!
Feel free to share this image on your social media and link this article to your stories if you resonated with this message and think it might help others as well.
Commentaires