Ever hear or say something like “we’re in the same boat?” I did the other day, while talking to my daughter. And as soon as the words came out my mouth, I knew there was something so much more to that expression.
What does it mean to be in the same boat? Typically, we mean that we are working together towards a common goal or mission. So of course I starting thinking about the people in our boat—my daughter’s and mine.
Who’s in your boat? On whom do you rely for emotional, spiritual, financial or physical support? We all have people in our lives who are in our boat. But the important question here is how are they rowing? Are the people in your boat rowing with you? Against you? Or are they poking holes in the bottom of your boat, making it harder and harder for you to get where you want to go? Are the people you rely on actually helping you or are they hurting you, intentionally or unintentionally? It’s important to address and analyze who we allow in our boat. We all need people to lift us up, not drag us down. We are all entitled to a support system that actually works to support us.
And now that we are talking about boats, who is relying on you to help them with their dreams and aspirations? Whose boat are you in? How fast are you rowing for them? Or are you secretly trying to delay their progress? These questions are not meant to be judging, but to allow us to reflect on how we act towards the important people in our lives who depend on us.
We can only change our attitude and our own behavior. We can choose whom we rely on to help us in our boat. And we can choose how we show up for the people who are relying on us. Everyday offers us an opportunity to do better. And we can.
Always with love,
Heather
