Oct 10
19
Follow Your Own Advice
Recently, I was speaking with a friend on the phone. She has the tendency to be too hard on herself. Sometimes, she forgets that she is a good person. On this day, she was looking at the things she could not do because of being ill, not looking at the things she could and does do.
I know how easy it is to see only the things that we cannot do. I have been ill for many years. I have chronic illness and chronic pain. The combination makes most days very difficult to keep moving forward. Yet, I have found that if I look forward and keep hope alive in my heart, I can overcome the disappointment that automatically occurs if I focus on the things I cannot do rather than the things I can.
As our conversation progressed and I asked my friend questions so that she could see the good things she accomplishes and as we talked about what a good person she is, an interesting thought came into my head, “Why don’t you take your own advice?” Wow!
After the call finished, I wondered how often we do not follow our own advice. How easy is it to help a friend! Yet-do we give the same comfort, encouragement and acceptance to ourselves that we give to others?
There are times in our lives when we are unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but as my brother-in-law said recently, “It is there even though you may not see it yet.” So, pay attention as you give advice to others and see if perhaps you can use the same advice yourself. If you can use this advice, follow it. Following good advice, either from yourself or from someone else, will empower you…So, any good advice out there?
