Down But Not Out!

From time to time life can deal us some pretty tough blows. It could be a serious health challenge, loss of a job, someone who undermines our belief in ourselves, the death of a loved one or relationship, a natural disaster or a series of difficult events that wear us down until we may not be sure we can get up again.

When I am working with a client who is experiencing such a devastation to their belief in themselves and their world, my heart goes out to them. I know how gut wrenching it can be.This is a time when having a community of friends, and loved ones, who love and appreciate you for who you are, vs. what you do, is invaluable.

Make a list of at least 10 people, on whom you could call in a time of physical or emotional need. If you can not list 10 people, then it is time to start developing current and new relationship to that level of quality. Of course, to have that kind of friends you have to BE that kind of friend.

Many people are uncomfortable asking for help. While I am a great believer in self reliance, the fact of the matter is that we all need physical and emotional support to be at our best and in down times we need it even more.

The real story behind our courageous pioneering fore fathers is one of cooperation, support, community and interdependence. In a world that is increasing in complexity, almost by the hour, we are still pioneers who need courage, cooperation, support, and community.

The next time you feel as though you have been dropped, stapled, mutilated, and ground into the dirt by the decisions you have made or circumstances, call on your network of loving, accepting, supportive friends and family.

Although, they may seem temporarily disabled, your intelligence, knowledge, skills, experience, capability, spirit, heart, values, courage and all the other things that make your who you are, are still in tact somewhere inside of you.

A wonderful example is former 'Superman', Christopher Reeves, now a quadriplegic, who directed and stared in the most recent version of 'Rear Window'.

According to articles about his accident, he just wanted them to pull the plug when he first realized the extent of his injuries. However, with time, love, support and courage Christopher Reeves has proven that with all that he has lost he is still truly a Super Man.