Being Seen and Supported
None of us were created to do life on our own. As humans, we were designed to support each other. We are social beings who need others to enhance our lives. The interesting thing about modern living is that we have become unhelpfully independent. We have become crazy, capable, stressed-out little islands who have lost the ability to ask for help or even notice when help is required!
My husband and I still live in the small town that we grew up in. We get asked all the time why we have never moved. Raising our children close to their grandparents was very important to us. Being working parents of four children, we knew that we were going to need some help, so it was a deliberate plan.
It is still working now that our parents are getting older and we are able to offer them the support that they once offered us.
An imbalance of help in your world will cause you problems. Late last year, I ran a workshop for 100 busy professional women. Most of them when I asked them to write a list of the people who they support, came up with 15 names. Friends, family, children, and neighbours all relied on them for something. When I asked the same group of women to list the number of people who support them, they came up with less than 5. The difference in these numbers shocked them. No wonder they were feeling stressed out and unsupported!
This month, I am on a mission. A mission to help people to love themselves and their lives - it's actually my mission every month of the year but I thought that Valentine's Day was an excellent time of year to increase the love in the air. We are not even halfway through the 14 days and it's already been amazing. We have women sharing ideas, sharing tips and inspiration and even photographs. Some are using the challenge as a shove to connect with others. Others are filling the space with kind and encouraging responses.
I think that 'being seen' is one of life's most precious gifts. While we appear to be more connected than ever - isolation is a huge issue for many. Whether you are physically isolated from your nearest and dearest or emotionally distant, being seen is an excellent remedy for our weird modern loneliness. (It's not too late to join our free 14 day Big Love Challenge - come see and be seen!)
On Wednesday, Feb 14th, we have a fun night planned - 90 minutes of ideas and inspiration on why you need to fall in love with yourself! How you can learn to like your body - as it is. Your mind - not demeaning what it should be and learning to be gentle on your precious self!!!
Most of us aren't getting enough support. Most of us go about our days without feeling seen. Invisibility is a huge problem for middle-aged people. If you are a born supporter, giver and see-er - you might well be sick of living on a one-way street. Supporters support everybody. Partners, children, parents. There are just so many people to support!
Who witnesses & supports you?
