Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy delaying, deterring
and derailing any form of progress when it comes to bettering ourselves. Blame
lack of ‘self help’ on stubbornness, fear, angst or denial; it can very easily
be a myriad of things. Regardless of what we may allow that personal obstacle
to be, when it exists there is a present inability to take the necessary step
to seek out the many resources that can often be a finger tips length away.
So many face daily challenges and wage battles against anxiety,
depression, sadness, addiction, the shackles of our past, unhealthy
relationships, etc. There’s a whole lot of heartbreak out there. But I have
found myself recently exceedingly frustrated as a counselor with an ongoing
trend with those I lend an ear to either personally or professionally. There is
verbal acknowledgement with the issue at hand, often it is conveyed numerous
times over the course of weeks or months, but there’s a firm resistance in
going any further. The discontentment and host of emotions are clearly
conveyed, but we come to a grinding halt in going any further than this.
As either friend or clinician I see the hamster in the wheel
effect almost on a daily basis. There is a whole lot of running, exerting and
chasing without any progress. They are stuck and emotions and circumstance can
make the stopping or hopping off the wheel seem overwhelmingly
frightening. As humans, our
present state cripples us and peering outside of the scope is petrifying. But,
it is possible. At some point, we cannot be forced, but rather, choose to take
that hand, make that phone call, fall on our knees, seek out that which is
beyond what we can do for ourselves. Whether it’s depression, cutting, an
addiction, anxiety, perpetual fears,
eating disorders or a million other things, there are options for help.
Help, self care, counseling, re-aligning, whatever we’re
going with can begin personal re-alignment, but nothing happens overnight. Most
of us aren’t patient and in a day and age of instant access to everything we
also have a tendency to have a personal time frame of how long we give ‘help’
to work before we become frustrated. A lot of times, it can be a life long
process. That’s not a bad thing, but rather a life focused on healing and
realigning.
It can be hard sometimes to look ourselves in the mirror and
like what we see. Life can be tough, rough and sometimes feel like we’re its
personal punching bag. But help, encouragement and long-term resources are out
there. It’s just taking that first, very scary, but very possible first step.
Don’t allow fear to keep you fixed in a rut of life. You’re worth more than
that and life is too fleeting to maintain rut status.
Every single one of us is
unique. We have our own experiences and struggles. My hope is that when a hand
is extended to us, a heart and ear is leant out, that although we may not be
ready right then to take a step, we will keep it in the forefront of our minds
and consider that maybe those chiding words from the counselor, friend, loved
one or colleague might hold some merit to it. May the hampster wheel be still
and the rut be filled to its brim.
