Expect from yourself, but be realistic

Most of us are caught up in the tug of war between who we think we should be and who we actually are; between what we want to do and what we’re actually able to do. In other words we’re at the mercy of our guilt demons. Our feelings of guilt often prevent us from taking care of ourselves. These feelings often stem from unrealistic expectations.
I suggest you to just stop and think about it, you’ll realize that you have
impossible ideals that you have set and strive to live up to. Ideals like
‘I must always put other people’s needs first or ‘I should never disappoint anyone’ & the most used one is- ‘people should not think ill of me.’ These kinds of standards are not only impossible to meet, but they also wreak havoc (being trouble & unhappiness) in your life.
When you let yourself be driven by these guilt demons, you become irritable, grumpy and unable to live a peaceful life. You start to ignore your own needs and the Godzilla starts to bring suffering on you, your entire family, friends and co- workers.

First and foremost, we have to have realistic expectations. I am talking about what you can reasonably expect of yourself. Time and time again, we demand that we act more generously than what we can, give more than what we have to give, and push ourselves beyond our limits. This is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. How long do you think you can function under these con bo certainly not very well. Guilt is a major roadblock in taking care of yourself. You always have a list of what has to be done for others that takes first preference over attending to your needs. Then there’s the fear of disappointing someone if you occasionally make yourself a priority. But stop and consider for a moment: when you put yourself last on the list and allow your guilt to run your life, the person that you continuously disappoint is yourself.
The truth is you have to come first, at least some of the time. I know this probably makes you uncomfortable since it goes against everything you’ve been taught. Yet, the reality is that it’s only if you love and care for yourself, that you will truly be able to love and care for others.
If that’s not motivation enough, taking care of yourself is an essential part of restoring your sanity and creating a life you love. I’m not talking about abandoning your family or your career and becoming completely self- absorbed. What I am suggesting is that you simply bring yourself back into the equation and maintain a healthy balance.
Life is awesome and only if you make yourself a priority, take care of yourself, mentally and physically, will you be able to take care of others, give generously and create a peaceful life for yourself and others.
God bless.
Dr. Priya D’souza