Am I too hard on myself?

[JMC27]

I really don't have anything to complain about

I have my own house, well paid job, a couple of rental properties, a great life, friends and family - and have support if and when needed. Its just me and my daughter.

But I am still hard on myself.

I feel like I am spreading myself too thin.

It gets to 8 o'clock at night, I have done a full time job, just looked after my daughter and run a house.

However I have so much in my head that I want to do, I want to write a book, start another business etc.

I feel like I have no energy, but when I sit down to relax (which I know I need to do) I feel guilty.

Maybe I am trying to take on too much, but I always like to be focused on the next thing.

Well if you want to do things you aren’t getting to do, you need to drop some stuff.

What can you drop or delegate? Time isn’t elastic, and you aren’t helping yourself if you burn out.

Or can you make a plan for a couple years for when your daughter is older?

I think it's because you have such a long list of things to do that when you stop it feels weird.

It sounds as though you have achieved a lot in life already and of course it is important to aim high, but in doing so, there needs to come a time when you sit back and reflect on the things that you have achieved. So when will this happen? If/when you have achieved those next things on your list, will you still feel guilty that you can subsequently relax or will it be on to the next thing?

I ask because I am like this, or at least I was like this. Achieving something then wanting to start something else, over and over again. I heard it once described as being a Renaissance soul, but I am not sure that is it.

One thing to consider is where these thoughts originated from. With me, my father was/is a very high achiever, was always on the go and drummed it into his children that to ‘relax’ was only for the lazy. Therefore, for many years, I thought it was a weakness to unwind and felt guilty if I tried to do so! These thoughts were hard to challenge, but I have now come to a time in my life where I can let go a little more and relax. Perhaps examining why you feel guilty may give you some more answers.