With Age Comes Wisdom

The old adage ‘with age comes wisdom’ comes to mind regarding the above. I find so often, that most individuals when asked, ‘What do you want out of life?’; their answers will be ‘love, happiness, peace and balance’. Yet time and time again they succumb to the pressures of others whether it job related, family, significant others and/or friends and always forget to ‘put themselves on their priority/to-do list’. I heard a great line recently…’most individuals are hardwired to having a superhighway to upset and they have a dirt road to peace’. Putting one’s self on their ‘own list’ takes practice and diligence and a commitment to boundaries. Be kind to others…Be kind to yourself and remember that You Matter! 

Acceptance and Balance is key....

Fear vs Brave

Historically, the concepts of ‘fear’ and ‘being afraid’ have always elicited a negative connotation and we obey our internal ‘beware’ and ‘proceed with caution’ signs. However, as cited above, there are distinct times where fear holds us back from advancing in our lives and achieving our goals. We may be afraid to have the difficult but necessary conversations or fear putting ourselves ‘out there’ to meet new people or become committed to someone or something that we love or travel or try a new food or incorporate a healthy habit. The list can be endless… Fear does not necessarily have to equate to a dangerous circumstance it can however represent a significant growth opportunity.

Acceptance

Accepting each other's different viewpoints and ways of doing things can be a life enriching experience :)

Embracing Ones Stuff

Embracing one's own "stuff" whether 'good' or 'not-so-good' can be quite empowering. Oftentimes we want to hide or shy away from our shortcomings or what might be deemed not-so-pretty characteristics. This can be due in part, out of concern of being judged by others, embarrassed and just overall fear of not being accepted. No one relishes the feeling of rejection. But if we learn to take ourselves off the proverbial hook, take responsibility when needed and pull our own covers. The sting of others' opinions is lessened greatly.

H.O.P.E.

This truly resonated with me…In our line of work or anyone in the social services industry; we come across individuals from all walks of life and at various ages and stages in their lives. But over the years I have learned that one thing holds true; everyone has a story, history and life experiences. Often times that story can not only highly impact and shape a person’s life but they may have learned to view the world and/or themselves through such a filter that may hinder their ability to achieve their dreams and optimal selves. Having compassion for the individuals that we are privileged to work with, along with supporting them in learning to have compassion for themselves; is just one of many key elements in the work we do.