Five Life Lessons: #5 - Support is Essential
Michael C. Roubicek, PhD, LCSW - aka ‘Dr. Mike’ - has been a psychotherapist since 1983. In this series, he shares five lessons he’s learned about life in over 20 years of working with Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery patients.
Read previous: Lesson #4 - Balance is Key
Lesson #5 - Support is Essential
This life was not meant to be a journey that we take alone. We need others. We need closeness and connection. We need support, help, encouragement, validation, and understanding.
We wouldn’t think twice about calling a plumber to fix a leak or taking our car to the mechanic to address a problem. But how easy is it to reach out to a friend or family member and ask for help when we feel discouraged, anxious or frustrated. It seems more difficult if we believe we caused our own problem and we don’t want to be seen as weak, flawed or needy. Or maybe we feel like we aren’t worth it. Too often we are last on the list; we make sure everyone else is happy, satisfied or taken care of. And then there is nothing left in the account for ourselves. And of course, don’t forget guilt; thinking about ourselves can lead to believing we are selfish and that brings guilt.
Reach out. Engage. Lean on. You will find that it is an enriching experience to share yourself with someone else and allow them to show you some tenderness, empathy and understanding. And remember the old saying: many hands make light work. Invite others to be a part of your life. Let them assist you.
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