Someone asked me why I paint no big bellies.
Big. Beautiful.
“Self pity” or “Self Care”
I have been thinking about how we react when things get tough and have narrowed it down to “self pity” and “self care”.
Self pity seeks endless validation for our negative feelings and looks to hand over responsibility for our pain to anyone who will take it. It is closely tied to martyrdom – the ‘poor me’ school of thought and feeling… you know where everyone has our worst interests at heart, and we are helpless victims, exploited and abused. I recognise in myself times I have responded in this way. The features I recognise here are “blame” and looking at my own heart springs from envy, anger or in some instances even hatred. I recognise the “self Pity” cues in statements beginning with “I never….” “It’s always ….” or “it’s not fair….”.
I have learned that I am also able to respond in another way – with “self care”. I pay attention to my own needs and take positive steps to look after myself emotionally and physically when times are tough. I am responsible for myself. I am responsible for my happiness – not any other.
I have subscribed in my past to the myth that my prince will come. You know – the one from the fairy tales. So I feel sorry for myself and my situation and lo and behold, my prince will come and save me from it!!!! Wat I have realised increasingly is that it is indeed possible that our “prince” is inside ourself. Our prince is our resourcefulness and creativity and we are more than capable of rescuing ourself.
So many of the doorways into growing that life flings at us are difficult to face bravely; ( loss of a job and income, divorce, even a terrible day where everything seems to go wrong – and sometimes our natural response when we are hit like that IS self pity. But ask yourself – what does self pity get you? Validation, attention, proof someone at least cares? Does it change anything?
What if “self pity” is a negative loop that keeps you in a cycle of sadness and unhappiness? it is an automatic response, but then we strengthen and reinforce it because it is an old habit.
What if we replace self pity with self care? We begin by knowing that we have the capacity to make ourself feel better. It is important to recognise you may not be able to change circumstances or how any other person reacts but you can take action to do something that strengthens you. For example, begin a blog to write honestly about your feelings, book an appointment to do something nice for yourself, buy in a favourite series and spend time doing something pleasurable even in the midst of chaos. What do I feel? What do I need? What will make me feel better right now?
24 Hour Challenge – I will not Complain
Yesterday I took on a 24 hour challenge NOT to complain – not even once. Initially I thought easy peasy – but then I realised to follow through was more difficult than I expected.
The challenge itself made me look closely and THINK about each thought and quip. Instead of “sharing” or reposting some of the sarcastic pieces, I instead opted not to – BUT it took conscious effort. This surprised me.
A fast from complaining made me more focused on my words and my thoughts and that is a good thing.
Could you go 24 hours without complaining? Even once??
Don’t Compare Your Struggles…
See on Scoop.it – Living Business
Don’t compare your struggles to anyone else’s. Don’t get discouraged by the success of others. Make your own path and never give up.
Todd Lohenry‘s insight:
As Goethe said "Jeder hat sein Last und keiner ist leicht" [everyone has their burden and noone’s is easy]…
See on www.livelifehappy.com
I choose
Why is it that when I choose a healthy option and empower myself, someone tells me I am deprived or depriving myself???
There is a world of difference between “deprive” ~Adjective
Suffering a severe and damaging lack of basic material and cultural benefits.
…(of a person) Suffering a lack of a specified benefit that is considered important.
And when I CHOOSE…… I choose suggests working towards, following my wishes….certainly NOT deprivation.
I choose to eat healthy.
I choose to exercise daily and throw in extra challenges – because I can.
I choose to write and/or paint.
I choose to be myself. …(regardless of what others think. )
so there.
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 5,700 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 10 years to get that many views.
Maggie’s Spring Menu – lunch Saturday 20 October, followed by my first ever yoga class.
150g celeriac
1 small (50g) zucchini
1 small apple
1 tbs lemon juice
15g walnuts, roughly chopped
½ tsp flax seeds
few sprigs of snow pea shoots
Mash and mix 2tbs avocado,1 tsp lemon zest, 1 tbs lemon juice, 2 tsp flaxseed oil and serve on this salad. YUMMMMM.
Cut celeriac, zucchini and apple in thin batons (use a mandolin) and toss in lemon juice immediately to prevent them from oxidizing and browning.
Toss vegetables with dressing and top with walnuts, flax seeds and snow pea shoots.
PER SERVE: Energy: 749kJ (179Cals), Protein: 3.9g, Fat: 13.8g (Sat 1.6g), Carbs: 10g (Sugar 8.3g), Fibre: 6.3g
Favourite Places for Walking – Florence, italy
Some Italian cities are clogged with cars, but, in others, four-wheeled vehicles are delightfully absent from the narrow cobblestone streets and piazzas.
Rome might be the Eternal City and Milan the world’s fashion capital, but Florence is one of the Earth’s most pedestrian-friendly cities.
Walking is the best way to soak in the historic, sometimes-fairy-tale-like Florentine atmosphere. The Renaissance buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, wide piazzas and centuries-old bridges spanning the Arno River bring pedestrian sightseers the quintessential Italian city experience. Many of the city’s main sights are located in its historic central district. Attractions that can be reached easily on foot include the incomparable Uffizi Gallery, the Piazzale Michelangelo, and the famous Ponte Vecchio, shown here.
Winter Evening
The wind is racing loudly
outside,
howling, and shrieking
around.
Night falls
the wind whistles
escalating
within the dark.
Warm and snug
inside,
I smile.
Maggsworld 