Enough

Is there an Enough button? A point in your life when you not only said 'Enough!' but actually felt it. Those moments when you realize you want to change, whether it be yourself or your surroundings. Is this possible with people? Can relationships toll out? Romantic relationships can reach this point but what about family and friends. Do they get a pass? Is it a constant cycle?

It is easy to relate compassion to empathy. Though the emotions behind these words may be similar the action is different.

"Empathy is an emotional response to a person’s situation or well being. It is a word that is often associated with distressing circumstance or emotion. Empathy is when you try to understand how the particular individual may be feeling. You may very well imagine yourself in the same situation, developing in your mind the same emotions as the person you are feeling empathy for. By showing your empathy, you are creating a passive emotion towards an individual. Although you feel the same emotions, you do not take actions on your feelings; you do nothing to alleviate the emotions of the person you are feeling empathy for.

Compassion is a word used to express the same feeling as empathy. Yet when you feel compassion, you have more of a desire to take action. You can understand a person’s pain. You place yourself in the shoes of the individual, but you feel that you want to achieve more. Compassion is an emotion which calls for action. If a person is distressed you want to provide the individual with comfort; you want to take action to ensure a positive outcome." (www.differencebetween.net, 2014)

So you have empathized with someone and have taken action. Time and time again it seems as though efforts have failed. Should that be internalized or externalized? Is it you or them? People have what I like to call "the therapist" gene. A personality trait where one wants to endless help others. This can be mentally and emotionally draining if one does not care for themselves properly. So what happens when you give all that you can give? When you feel as though you have had 'enough'? Cut the cord with the person or situation. Do not be discouraged. People will take the help they want. This is not always equivalent to what they truly may need. Try your best to let it go. No matter what the relationship or situation is it is important to take a look at yourself and see what you need. What recharges you? You need to release the negativity that others and possibly even you are bringing into your life.

Our minds are powerful; our thoughts, our words, our emotions. So often as a society we point to other people. We blame them, judge them, criticize them. What about you? Take pride in learning from life lessons and moving forward. The thought of improving ourselves should not be a selfish one, yet a simplistic one. How we act, what we say to people, the way we think. This is a reflection of us as individuals. At the end of the day, happiness with yourself is what should matter. Those that need your help will appreciate and hopefully be inspired by you. I truly believe if you are happy with yourself life falls into place and those who are also happy will surround you. and Remember to take care of yourself.