RELAX — BE EASY ON YOURSELF

I’VE BEEN TOO HARD ON RIP

I bet if you focus you will discover tension in you feet, hands, face. I just did, as I do every time I look. Where the hell does that come from? From me, dummy. Why? I find I am unconsciously straining against something. Against what? Not “what”. It is against who? Answer, against Rip. Question, why?

Good question. The answer differs in specifics for each of us, but the general, most common cause for this stress creating cognitive dissonance that I’ve found is the lurking accusation by the voice of the Accuser within that I am not being or doing what is expected of me, the best I should be doing, that somehow I am causing others, usually those I love, some difficulty I never intended.

At the moment all I can say back to the Accuser is, “Shut the fuck up. Ok, sorry, you are just doing your job, which ultimately will help me. Sorry for the foul language. You are very good at your job, sometimes it seems you are enjoying being a little too good.”

Rip is not doing a bad job. He is doing the best he can. No more is asked. My advice to myself is, “lighten up on yourself. In your constant self criticism, even if unconsciously done, you are being insufferably egotistical, in a very negative way. Stop it. You aren’t the center of the Universe, just not THAT important, so ease up”.

Do what you can, but do not expect more. Accept yourself for the way God has made you. It is not for the pot to fault the Potter.