As a therapist, so often I tell my clients to take a day off or do something enjoyable for themselves. I tell them to be selfish for at least 5 minutes a day. But was I practicing this? I didn't have TIME to practice it!! Last night, my last client of the night, also one of my most challenging but rewarding clients, called me out. He looked at me point blank and said l, "Natalia, you need a day off. You look like you need a break. When was the last time you took a break?" My first instinct was Wait, what? Whose the therapist here? Then I thought wow, maybe he's right. Maybe he sees in me in my interactions that I need a break. It makes me sad that he saw that in me when i wasn't able to. This whole time I was trying to be there for all my clients and I was giving them my all, I was losing pieces of me in the process. In trying to give it my all, I was actually doing my clients a disservice. I think this happens in other forms of our lives. Those mothers who give all they have to their families and children. Those wives who work full time jobs and still get home to cook and clean. Now don't get me wrong, if you super mommies and super wives and super human beings can manage all of it, then more power to you!!However some of us (ahem, myself) need to stop making that the expectation or the ideal.
When we are trying to do it all and more, we are more likely to become sad, depressed, anxious, and unhappy.
You're good where you're at. We are all different, we look different, walk different, like different things. We also handle things differently or are able to manage different levels of stress. THAT'S OKAY!!!!! You are good enough! Be happy with yourself and your life! You deserve that much! That is what my client taught me.
