I read something where a person was being shamed for getting support for their mental and spiritual health, and I thought about what might be under the behavior that I could relate to, and it inspired me to make this illustration…
I used to think it was a sign of weakness to get support. Until I realized I had created the identity of ‘being strong’ to survive the fact that no one ever showed up for me when I needed it.
It was a badge I bestowed upon myself to honor the fact that I had summoned the strength to survive on my own, regardless of who wasn’t there.
But then I burned out and really needed support.
Support from others is not a substitute for my own support, but it reminds me that other people have resources I don’t have access to. Ways of thinking that expand my perspective so that my blind spots aren’t keeping me from seeing the full story of what’s happening within me and around me.
And when I allow other people to support me, it inspires me to want to use my own resources to support others.
That’s how we spread support through the world, so we don’t create new generations that need to muscle through and tell themselves they don’t need anyone, just to survive the fact that no one’s there.
-JLK
