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My story is simply one of having to acknowlegde my own limitations as an Executive, a Mom, a Wife and a Woman. Have you ever pushed yourself to your limits; either physically or emotionally? Were you even aware you were doing this or did something stop you in your tracks? Do you live your life as if everything and everyone around you is more important than yourself? Perhaps you say to yourself that your own pain and rest can wait another day or you live each week for the weekend so you can get more work done. If any of this describes even a small part of your thoughts then you are definitely not alone.

I was in the middle of my usual marathon of activities last weekend when I found myself feeling rather tired and nauseous. I told myself I would go to bed early that night. I had spent the last two weeks working 15 hour days because I was juggling tight deadlines at work along with a busy schedule at home. I am guilty of forgetting to take care of me in the midst of other more important things. On this particular day of not feeling well, I managed to drive myself home, crawl into bed and find out that I was running a fever of 102. Well, that explained it all - almost. I was actually out of commission for seven days - I knew enough not to drive while running a fever. I worked from home, fielding phone calls and emails and creating spreadsheets and letters.

My husband was wonderful at taking on the responsibility of bringing our son back and forth to daycare and letting me rest. He even told me how beautiful I was even though I was a lovely shade of pale green. It hit me on day three - even though I was so exhausted, I could not bring myself to sit still. I had to stay in motion. I could not accept myself if I sat down for even five minutes - it was incredible. I began to think about the times when my son and husband have been sick. I always force them to sit down and rest and make sure they do what they need to regain their health.

After three days of a fever, I went to the doctor and received the advice I needed along with a strong antibiotic. For the next four days I turned off the computer and the work phone and spent time with my family. It was not easy at first and then I slowly began to relax and realize that the office could survive without me for a few days - afterall they had survived before I showed up in the first place. When I returned to the office, I found that people had missed me and that they had also survived without me. Proof that I could take a vacation and the world would still be standing upon my return. My husband did a fabulous job with our son and all was right with the world when I finally was able to get out of bed and declare I felt better.

So, what’s my point? Those of us that assume Super-Executive-Mom personas need to relax a bit more. We need to remember to take care of ourselves every once in a while and not wait until we fall down. We need to accept that we are human and that we need a little help sometimes and that the world will be okay without our constant input 24 hours a day. We are allowed to sleep and we are allowed to go outside without makeup on the weekends and wear those old torn but comfortable jeans in public. Our families will still say we are beautiful no matter how green we look and we may even be able to be kinder to ourselves in the process. We need to feel the compassion toward ourselves that we give to others. We tend to set higher standards for ourselves than we do for those around us and it is time to accept ourselves as human. It is much better and easier if this process starts with us instead of being created by not taking care of ourselves.

This week take on the assignment of being Be self loving and self accepting. Your life will change through this exercise. Notice where you allow yourself to be self loving and accepting and where you stop yourself.

Until Next Week,

Cheryl