Do you hear yourself inadvertently saying ‘I am tired’ or ‘I am not feeling normal’… well that’s an alarm bell your body is ringing. It’s a sign that you are stretching yourself beyond your current abilities to handle your situations. It’s a sign that you are feeling overwhelmed and need rest, both physically and emotionally. It’s also a sign that it is time to say No to incessant expectations you have from others and from yourself. It is also a sign that it is time to say No… to the expectations… that others might have from you. Sometimes… you just have to say No.
In fact somewhere we all are victims of unmet expectations. And surprisingly, closer we are to someone, higher will be our expectations from them and vice versa. Sometimes these expectations are cleverly disguised under name of love and responsibility for our near and dear ones. And sometimes they are camouflaged as our own goals and aspirations. But can we take our minds off these expectations and rest?
I would say… very difficult! Particularly when our virtual life is a constant reminder of overachievers around us. When you see your Facebook friends flooding their walls with ‘darling spouses, best friends forever, my daughter is my princess and my papa strongest’, you are left wondering if you are the only one struggling in your relationships? Or when you see profile of your countless Linkedin connections writing ‘Entrepreneur, Head, Blogger, Traveler, Expert’, you start asking yourself if you are the only one doing the same job for years and still feeling under confident about it?
Also when your Instagram pops up filtered photographs taken under perfect lighting, suddenly your reflection in the mirror is sullied with your own unfiltered frowned look. Contrary to what we may feel, our virtual life is not a respite from our daily routines. In fact it is adding to our woes by constantly forcing us to ask ourselves… Am I doing enough?
And in order to fill the gaps, some of us start trying harder. We start making ourselves more available to our relationships, our jobs and our social circles. Soon to realize that it is an unending cycle of unfulfilled desires and unmet expectations reinforced by unresolved emotions.
This unending cycle is making us an easy prey to various mental and physical diseases like depression, anxiety, thyroid, cervical pain and even heart attack. So now the question is… can we give from an empty cup?
Friends, let’s just get it straight… we are not born to be Superwoman or Superman. We are here for a limited period to enjoy our being and learn from our surroundings. Let us not kill ourselves before time. Let us just BE!
So next time when somebody asks you… ‘Wassupp’? … Don’t feel the pressure to tell tale your list of achievements, instead just say… I am taking it easy!
Zindgi koi race thodi na hai
Jo daud kar jaanaa hai
Zindgi koi dwand thodi na hai
Jo jeet kar dikhaanaa hai
Zindgi ek marhalaa hai
ek khwab hai jo tujhe mila hai
Zaraa dum to le humdum
Zindgi koi mehboob thodi na hai
Jo marnaa hai mit jaanaa hai!
written by- Shilpi Johri
Author’s bio
Shilpi is a Financial Planner, Poet and Author. She can be reached at shilpi.asconsulting@gmail.com