'Better For Others' - Rebalancing Things

​Do you ever get run down and tired or sick and find it difficult to take time to look after yourself, to rest your body and soul?  As we were reminded by Osho last week  'Life is a balance between rest and movement.'  When  we are sick, tired or stressed we can get this balance out of wack and require a bit of a realignment.

I have had a bit of a wobbly July, with visits from bug after bug. It began with the coughing bug guest and has just ended with the latest guest, the sore throat bug. I had a talk to set up for on the weekend and I was feeling unwell. What should I do? Soldier on, make a big fuss, feel guilty, ask for help, or rest? I tend to have two equally unhelpful ways of reacting when I get sick, both of which throw me off balance. 

1. Soldiering On 
Coming from a long line of 'Soldier On'ers' with certainly no tolerance for malingering, I tend to tip myself off balance with a bit of 'martyrdom soldiering on' or a 'I don't get sick' boldness when it comes to being sick. I tend to ignore my guest bug pleas for a rest and run them all around town. They share themselves with others too, as I cough them about. We all end up exhausted.

2. Overindulging 
I can, though am less likely to overindulge my guest bugs. I can talk about them over and over, telling others all about what they are doing and how I am feeling. I can overindulge them and end up feeling worse and not getting on to do what is best for me and my guests. Which is to get some rest, take some medicine if appropriate, do what I need to do and stop the complaining and demands.  

As I have said before I find it very helpful to ask myself an important question when I am sick or out of balance, in other ways too. The question is 

• What makes me better for others?

And the answer in this case is 

• To rest and get well and not spread my guests bugs all around town to others. 

Resting allows me to be better for others. I am no use to anyone when I am dragging myself around coughing, spluttering and spreading my germs all over the place. And I am also no use to others when I am overindulging those bugs either, with 'all about me' complaints or guilt.

So a balancing 'Better For Others' and taking a rest really helps here. It helps me with: 

• Pride (feeling better than others) Thinking that somehow I don't get sick or need to rest and I can soldier on and do it all. And also not thinking of others by spreading my germs around, or giving them the opportunity to help me. 
• Reverse Pride (feeling worse than others). Poor me I am so sick or feeling guilty because I can't do it all and need to rest  - both are all about me. 

Instead if I can take a rest, with the attitude of being better for others I can take the opportunity to get well so

• I can be of use to others
• I can have empathy and compassion for others who are sick and encourage them to rest too 
• I don't spread my bugs around 
• I give others the opportunity to help 
• And be grateful for their help too 

So I did just that I decided to rest and to not go to the birthday afternoon tea or the talk, I asked friends to help me set up the yoga studio and then I went home to bed, without feeling guilty. And feeling very grateful for their help. 
Thank you guest bugs for an important lesson in looking after myself in order to be 'better for others'. 

Have a great week. Thank you all  
Kind Regards and Best Wishes 
Maree xx ​