It takes strength to ask for help
Some of us are facing possibly the most uncertain and seemingly most helpless challenges in our adult lives. It is as if someone sped up the roller-coaster of life and we have lost the amusement of it. No longer raising our hands in celebration, we find ourselves instead, uncharacteristically gripping the safety bar with extreme vigor. Only now, we no longer trust the safety bar, the lap bar, and over-the-shoulder device while in our seats, we don’t trust the park director, the person sitting in front or behind us, and worst of all, we have begun to question our own ability to ‘grip’ the safety bar. Hell, we may not believe it even exists. We start to question if we are even in the right park, is this what I signed up for? This is nothing like the brochure, how could I have been deceived?
Throw in the holidays and we can easily become overwhelmed, suddenly there ‘is nothing on Netflix’ or the other streaming apps we have, social media starts to confirm our confusions and fears, true or false have lost their meaning.
Where have our role models gone? What happened to leading by example?
“All I want is the truth, just give me some truth” – John Lennon 1971
Some of the people we have looked up to and envied over the years also had dragons in their closets or under their beds. On the outside their suit of armor was of the best materials polished to a perfect shine yet it was decaying from the inside. Through their art forms and careful editing, they kept Toto from allowing us to see who was really behind the curtain. Something prevented them from seeking help.
We are not alone; we never have been. There are others like us, and there are those who are skilled and trained at helping us, we just need to ask. We need to embrace our suck as an opportunity for our evolution as a species. We need to be the example; we owe that to our youngsters.
There is strength in recognizing it may be time to seek help or be there for someone who is reaching out.
We can start where we are, with a gratitude or mindfulness practice, something to ground us. I have been practicing seated and walking meditation for over twenty-five years now, putting it to the test during trying times. It helps if we have a community of practitioners to share questions, insights, and other things that may come up. If you are interested in learning more about how to start a mindfulness practice please feel free to ask on Listentonothing on Instagram and we can start addressing some of the common questions.
Imagine stumbling upon a treasure trove of thoughts, emotions, and forgotten dreams, written in your own hand, a forgotten journal from decades past. Each page, a window into a younger self, brimming with raw emotions and unfiltered aspirations.