Maria Connolly, LPC
There is a moment that catches you off guard when life slows down. The calendar opens up. No one needs an answer from you. There isn't a major decision waiting to be made or a project rescued. For once, there is nowhere you have to be and nothing you have to accomplish. And instead of feeling relieved, you feel... unsettled.
Fear is a part of being human. It can protect us and help us pay attention to what matters. Or it can become a powerful force that keeps us from moving toward the life we want.
Think about someone you consider fearless. Maybe she speaks confidently in front of a room full of people, travels somewhere unfamiliar, starts a new business, leaves a relationship that isn't healthy, or allows herself to be vulnerable with the people she loves. The thing is…she has fears, too. The difference is she’s embraced the advice, “Don’t let fear stop you”. She’s learned that feeling afraid doesn't necessarily mean “stop”.
When most people talk about “how to take care of yourself”, the advice usually centers on getting more sleep, eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and making time to relax.
These practices certainly support your well-being, but there's a key aspect that often goes unnoticed. One of the most important ways to take care of yourself is by learning to stay connected to your inner self while life changes around you.
Summer has a way of creating possibility. Typically, the calendar isn’t so packed. Evenings stretch a little longer. We imagine this is finally the time to tackle everything we've been postponing. After all, you want to use your time wisely, and that means accomplishing something like:
For women who are driven and deeply committed to living meaningful lives, free time can quickly become another project to manage. Without realizing it, we carry an invisible list of who we think we should become if only we had enough time.
Many women have come to believe that emotional well-being means feeling happy, calm, confident, and positive most of the time. So when anxiety appears, when grief lingers, or when uncertainty settles in, they assume something is wrong.
But what if nothing is wrong?
What if the real measure of well-being isn't how you feel on any given day, but how deeply connected you remain to yourself while your feelings come and go?