Try Living Your Own Life…
I spend A LOT of my time “helping” others (hopefully) to live better lives. I think I am pretty good at what I do. At the very least, I try my best to help others to the best of my own abilities, and I THINK I create some positive results in this world. Overall, I absolutely LOVE what I do and I think I am one of the lucky ones who found a profession they were made for… BUT!
There is murkiness in this world and a whole lot of darkness. It is impossible to combine light and dark without creating so many different shades of gray. Yesterday, I was FULLY IMMERSED in the “grayness of life” and I admit I DID NOT have the answer… By looking at the life of another, I was forced to look at my own life and beliefs and thoughts and feelings and how I move and interact through this world. It made me realize, on a VERY DEEP level, that I have been so caught up in interacting with the kids and teachers at my new school that I have been neglecting checking in on myself and where I am at and how I am doing in this life.
It is great to help others. I will take every opportunity I can to help another whenever the opportunity arises. However, I can not help others (to the best of my abilities) without making sure I am consciously and purposefully living my own life. A valuable lesson but one that is easily lost in the murkiness life can often offer…
I know you effect positive change in this world! But because of your role, you likely experience the darkness and murkiness in the lives of others more than the average person experiencing our world. Those in your profession probably have a higher need to prioritize balancing the professional and the personal–otherwise I imagine it’s so easy to let the professional take precedence, take over, and lead to burn out.
Thank you for this reminder…teachers also often have a hard time finding balance between work and self-care. There are definitely “shades of gray” there, as well!
I hope your simply realizing and remembering that this is necessary has helped you feel more positivity.
Yes! Absolutely, Betsy! Balance is SO IMPORTANT in all aspects of each of our iives…. But it is so easy to become imbalanced. Just the chance to step back and look at things with just a bit of perspective is super helpful…. And necessary. Thank you for the comment as always!