One of my Favorite Inspirational Stories about Strength
A girl and her mother were walking along a road when they came across a large stone. The girl said to her mother, “Do you think if I use all my strength, I can move this rock?” Her mother answered, “If you use all your strength, I am sure you can do it.” The girl began to push the rock. Exerting herself as much as she could, she pushed and pushed. The rock did not move. Discouraged, she said to her mother, “You were wrong. I can’t do it.” Her mother placed her arm around her daughter’s shoulder and said, “No, daughter. You didn’t use all your strength. You didn’t ask me to help you.” ~Author Unknown

My Personal Thoughts About Emotional and Spiritual Fitness
The above story really rings true for me. How about you? Many times in my past, I made life much harder for myself then it needed to be because I was too ashamed to ask for help. I was so uncomfortable sharing my vulnerable side with others that I kept everything bottled up inside. I was good at helping others but not good at asking for help for myself. In my mind, other people mattered more than I did.

I believed that if I asked for help, I would be judged as weak and would feel humiliated, ashamed and rejected. Back then, I had a pretty low self-esteem.  I didn’t realize that by isolating myself, I was diminishing my self-esteem even further and jeopardizing my health in the process. I’ve grown wiser over the years, as most of us do, and I know better now.

Asking for support when I need it has become an integral part of my personal growth journey and, as a result, my life has become a rewarding adventure that keeps getting better and better.  Which, by the way, does not mean that life is perfect. Rather, I’ve learned (and continue to learn) how to live with more ease and joy and how to more effectively deal with stress when it arises. I am so grateful to those who have helped me along the way! And, because I’ve experienced profound healing in my own life so far, I have great faith in each person’s ability to turn things around for the better. Perhaps this is why I’m so passionate about my work.

Balance Giving and Receiving
The truth is that learning to ask for the appropriate kind of help, when needed, and allowing ourselves to receive it is actually a strength. It encourages us to expand and grow beyond our perceived limitations. We ALL benefit from nurturance, so in addition to caring for others, allow yourself to be heard and cared for too.

Unresolved negative emotions compromise our vitality and can lead to misguided behaviors, such as emotional eating (or other ways of “numbing out” to uncomfortable feelings.)  If you’re feeling anxious or afraid, sad or depressed (or any other feeling that may be bothering you), reach out to someone you trust who is willing and available to support you through these feelings (a family member, friend or even a qualified professional if needed, such as a counselor or minister). Your feelings matter!

True Emotional Well Being
And practice expressing your positive emotions too. Oddly enough, for many, this can be more difficult than expressing their negative emotions.  Perhaps because they’re not as used to it, so it might feel vulnerable.  We can choose to strengthen our “emotional muscles” by “exercising” them daily just like we do our minds and bodies. And there is no better way to bolster health naturally then to look for things to appreciate and  acknowledge about yourself and those around you. When you share your good feelings with others, everyone benefits!

And, remember, if you’re not feeling good today, reach out for trustworthy support. Our best healing happens when we ASK FOR and let ourselves actually RECEIVE the authentic love and care we truly want. We then have more love to share with others!

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I would love to hear from you about this post. Here are some questions to help get your thoughts turned on. What does the story in the first paragraph about the mother and her daughter mean to you?  What is your favorite way to give to others? What has someone given to you that you cherish? Are you comfortable asking for help when it’s needed?