I came across a quote by Asha Nayaswami the other day which said that ‘a person’s worst quality is often their best quality, taken a little too far!’ and it struck me as such a nice way of reframing something negative… into a positive.
The quality of caring, for example, can easily escalate into ‘bubblewrapping’, given half a chance, and the right set of circumstances.
I speak from experience, as motherhood (or rather the phenomenon known as matrasense) has, on reflection, taken the worry and what-if’ing that comes with the caring territory, to a whole new level of extreme.
Recognising this…it’s half the battle.
The easier half, I might add.
The other half, is the long, laborious unlearning process that NOT being this way involves.
Contrary to what I’ve always thought, the answer to my particular ‘over-caring’ plight - which has the majority of its roots in anxiety - isn’t so much cultivating more calm, as it is trust.
Trust that more things are safe, than my mind would have me believe.
Trust, as well, that what seems to be making my life harder (the wrench of loosening the reigns is real!!) might ultimately be what makes it easier, long term.