Why do we settle for "good enough?"

There is a conditioning I see in the US that is very pronounced now that I live in Switzerland. It is a minimizing of how difficult life can be.

In Switzerland, everyone automatically gets 4 weeks of vacation a year. If you are over 50, you get 5 weeks. Overtime is rarely requested of an employee, and it will most likely not be without compensation. Bosses are discouraged from emailing their employees after business hours. Time off is truly time off — no one is expected to read work emails during a vacation. Can you imagine?

Life is very different in the US. We wear our suffering like a badge of honor. "Yeah, I worked 60 hours this week," "I had to pull an all-nighter," "Well, someone has to do it!" "Traffic was brutal, I was in the car 2 hours to go 30 miles." And that is before heading home to spouses and kids, and kids' activities, because, well, we have to sign them up for everything, right?

Overscheduling is standard practice in the US. We sit on the sidelines at the soccer game with a bit of wine in our water bottles, and lament that life is demanding. Parental stress levels are at an all-time high, depression and anxiety are frequent guests, and Netflix comedies, alcohol, chips and Ben & Jerry's are the panacea.

I hear "I'm fine." "I'm good enough." "It's just how it is." "This is how everyone does it..." Some people struggle more with the juggling, but remain quiet because again, everyone feels this way. And the extreme work ethic and selflessness are admired in the US culture.

I saw a meme a few weeks ago that mentioned if a woman says she needs help, don't urge her on, saying she can do it, how great she's doing, rah rah rah. If she is asking, then she is most likely drowning. That really resonated for me.

Parents, especially moms, I want to tell you life doesn't have to be this difficult. You deserve to rest and not feel guilty about it. You are allowed to put yourself first occasionally. If you practice self-care, you will be much better equipped to handle the "normal everyday challenges that everyone has to deal with." And you might even find that you really don't have to deal with some of them. Just because everyone is doing it (burning out) doesn't make it a good idea.

If you let me, I can help you help yourself make order of your over-commitments... after a 15-minute zoom conversation, you have no other time commitment to me other than an occasional message. If you are in the US, I do my Intuitive Energy Work while you sleep. I continue daily for a minimum of 7 days. It is far more lasting than "1 and done" sessions, so this is now how I roll.

Let me know when you are ready to feel better than "good enough!"

~~ Blessings ~~