Thursday, August 4, 2022
Every once in a while, you need novelty, a thrill, or stimulation. Every once in a while, you just need to do absolutely nothing and to be still. Other times you need to get creative and build good habits for better health. Like toddlers, we have complex needs that need attention and balance. The key is to pay attention to those needs, and to make adjustments, like a parent would for her child.
Humans are complex creatures with instinctual needs that extend well beyond those of our primate relatives. We are not just habitual. We are not just thrill-seekers. We are not in perpetual rest nor are we always having to cater to carnal desire. We have a complexity of physical, spiritual, and psychological needs. They key is to figure out what you need, never getting too comfortable in the nest or to be too obsessed with seeking thrill and/or understanding. If you need an adventure and novelty, shake things up a bit – you’re creative! If you need a better habit, research ways of making it enjoyable. If you need downtime, alone time, or you need to actually do nothing – do it. Too often, when we need rest, we end up stimulating ourselves with movies, TV, or social media. If we need novelty, we become too obsessed with thrill-seeking and it becomes an addiction. If we need alone time, we cannot say no to those invitations that we end up resenting.
Parenting yourself in healthy ways is a difficult balancing act. Be attentive to what your mind, body, and heart need. You’re a free-flowing and complex being in need of attentive care. Give yourself a chance, develop a healthy balance for yourself, and to pay attention to how those needs change over time.