Aging, Wisdom, Acceptance and Embracing Genuine over Judgement.
As we journey through life, not only do we change physically, there is a shift in our minds and hearts. With age, we gain wisdom from reflecting and learning from our experiences throughout life. This helps us to understand, relate and empathise with those around us.
Reflecting back on my younger self, I wanted connection, validation and to feel accepted as I never felt I was 'enough'. I used to worry about what people thought of me, now I see it didn't matter and maybe I disliked them. Like everyone, my path has crossed with many different people over the years. Some, disingenuous, who just wanted to pry to uncover weakness, to gossip or make themselves feel superior (this is down to their own self-esteem and insecurities). These judgements not only hurt us but leave us feeling vulnerable and misunderstood.
As I have grown older, my intuition is sharper than ever! I am able to recognise the difference between superficial and genuine people. Not everyone who asks questions about our lives will do it out of genuine care or interest, sometimes there will be hidden motives.
This is where the power of awareness, control and boundaries are important. Let them judge - what does this tell us about what must be going on for them? Acceptance - We cannot control or change how other people think or behave. We can change how it makes us feel and how we react to it. There will always be people that will misunderstand us and not truly know your truth. How other people treat us can influence our emotions and impact on our mental health. Remember, we are allowed to feel the emotions we feel, take a moment, then break it down, process it, take the lesson and move on.
True connections are built on trust, kindness, and respect. There are genuine people that have entered my life who are supportive, who are there to listen and understand when I need to talk.
Life is hard enough without drama and the knowledge I have now is what I would relay to my younger self. Having this insight helps us to know when to protect ourselves and our positive energy from the genuine and disingenuous people who may come and go in our lives.
Human connection is precious and gives us a sense of belonging. Boundaries are everything! It can be so easy to put mental health at the bottom of our priorities, responsibilities and work can often take preference over our health and well-being. When we feel overwhelmed we can feel more emotional, also feeling physical symptoms which can add to low mood and anxiety. It is ok to take time out and do what is best for yourself - let go of what others think. Investing time in the people around us that genuinely care and uplift us is healthy energy. Never feel less because you are 'enough'