Profit In Peace 19: Taking Charge
I’m angry. I feel trapped at home, at work, and in my relationship. I am tired and uncomfortable like I have no personal space. I am taking charge today.
I don’t know what that means, but right now it means, that for the first time since I came back to my parent’s house, I am doing my daily routine.
Nowhere To Go
My parents
Hovering
Watching
Judging
Like glue stuck to my arms
My girlfriend
A ball of frustration and negativity
That I feel anxiety in my core
Every time she pulls at me
My work a clash between
Two fighting parents
With me stuck in the middle
Where is the space for me?
I feel several realizations come to me when I write about these emotions. First, the technique of taking space. I feel all my oxygen, happiness, room, and sanity is taken away by others. I feel like I’m making myself smaller to give room to others. The first thing I want to do is to start taking up space, making demands, and making myself big.
The second thing that I feel is important (and might give me a clue as to how I can make myself big, and not huddle real small), is remembering my boundaries and needs:
- Time – I want to be in control of my time
- Honesty – I want to be honest with myself and others
- Empathy – I want to empathize and others to empathize with me
- Possibility – I want to believe anything is possible
- Respect – I want others to show respect for me and my abilities
This already gives me a clearer idea of what is happening here.
I definitely feel a lack of honesty, time, and sometimes respect and empathy at home. In fact, maybe possibility sometimes too. In my relationship I feel lack of honesty, empathy, possibility, and time (and sometimes respect). And at work, I feel a lack of respect, honesty, empathy, and time as well.
I also feel that in every scenario, the key is wanting everyone to like me to not feel uncomfortable.
I caused most of these boundary violations to happen, and that is empowering because I have the ability to change them,
One of the things I want to do instead of wanting everyone to be happy and wanting everyone to like me, is approach people with my same values.
For example, if I want to be honest with someone, empathize with them, show respect, but let go of trying to control how they feel. If I want to be respected more, I can do that with empathy and honesty and respect as well.
This is far more empowering and less stressful because I am in control of myself. I can change how I approach situations, but I cannot control others.
