As a physician, wife, mother, daughter, sister, best friend and the other various hats I wear in my life, I have often wondered, what am I doing? Does wearing one hat mean that I have to put down another? After all, I can only juggle so many. I find myself feeling sad and defeated, even apologizing every time one of my proverbial hats is dropped!
I find that I gauge my happiness based on how well I perform this balancing act. Impossible? I cannot be perfect to everyone and certainly not all the time.
Do these emotions sound familiar to you?
I find comfort in the words of Dr. Brenè Brown, a renowned American scholar, author and public speaker made famous for this very subject and her best-selling book “The Gifts of Imperfection.” She writes, “Want to be happy? Stop trying to be perfect!” She describes perfectionism as not really focusing on yourself because it does not ask how you yourself can improve. Rather, perfectionism asks what do others think of me. Brown advises that we must let go of who we think we are supposed to be and embrace who we are. Bottom line, happiness and what feels right depends on you.
Now is the time to choose you, to find what makes you happy. It is feeling good in your own skin that allows you to be a part of what you feel is important and to be present.
How can you seek out lifestyle modifications that will make an impact on your life, not just for 2014 but for your lifetime? No matter the stage of your life, whether it is having your first menstrual cycle, surviving and staying healthy while busy in college, having a baby or entering menopause, starting with you means assuring your own health and well-being. Health may be your ticket to reach your dreams or it could be a boulder blocking your success.
Take the time to talk with an obstetrician gynecologist who is trained to address women’s health issues across all life stages. We are here to discuss what is important to you and what you need to know to achieve your goals and assure your mental and physical well-being. It is important to be open and ask questions that you find most intimate or even difficult to share with others, as we are your women’s health advocate and are here for you through your every stage of life.