When it seems that things are coming at you from all sides….

Hold onto yourself. 

Even if you are surrounded by supportive loved ones, you are all you’ve got. 

You are your own constant companion and your relationship with yourself is the longest relationship you will ever have – so you might as well be best friends.

You might as well learn to enjoy yourself.   

How you treat yourself is (already) the platform from which you see others and it forms the lens through which you see all things. 

When under pressure, don’t talk to everyone about what you are facing. 

It’s a hopeful myth that all talking is helpful.

It’s not.  

Choose a few trusted people and talk only to them

Spewing – freely-recalling, random mumblings, blaming others, yelling,  speaking from a place of confusion or anger  – has limited and few benefits. 

Holding onto yourself involves planning what you will and will not share.

You are allowed to keep things to yourself. 

You are allowed to plan and decide how you will behave, who you will be. 

All this, and more, is all part of learning to hold onto yourself.

When you hold onto yourself, some will tell you are being selfish.

Self-awareness and selfishness are poles apart. 

[I will be in Durban in February and April — not March — and would love to speak at your church, school, or fundraising event — make contact by email or private message.]