A Work in Progress

I was reading Susan Piver's book on fear, and when I came to the passage about how often all of us treat our journey in this life as a work in progress. The pressure for self-improvement can become it's own task master, never taking a break, never letting up on the self-judgments; " Did I meditate long enough today ?" " Did I confront my mother with the truth, finally ?"  ' Did I tell everyone today that I loved them ?" etc.

So, we are just trading one monster in the closet for another. 

Where does the compassion for ourselves appear ? 

When does the soothing release of pressure surface ? 

Why do we hold onto the regiments so tightly as if they are the defining moments in our lives ? 

The oppressive nature of constantly doing; the relentless dogma we have chosen to shackle ourselves to...who is really in control here ? 

Whose needs are really getting met in this dance of perpetuity ?

How do you know when to take a 'break'...how do you self-nurture yourself.

Is your financial clock ticking ?

I was talking to a new client yesterday and her fears around money start to sound like the fears a lot of young women have about their biological clock ticking: wanting children but lacking the partner or the financial base so they can take the time off to be a mother.

Now, at 43, Barbara has accepted  that her biological clock has ceased ticking....but her financial clock is ticking very loud. Does she save enough money for retirement ? Does she have enough money to protect herself if she has a health emergency ? 

What do you do to protect yourself ? Or, are you stuck in fear and shame about money and can't move on ?