The Myth of "Boot Straps"

In this Blog:

Myth of "Pull yourself up by your boot straps"

What actually works

Hello !!

Have you been trying to do life independently, not reaching out for support because you are strong enough to do it on your own?

This American quote, “Pull yourself up by your boot straps” has long been put on a pedestal because it is a display of brave independence and encourages us that we can do it all on our own with no outside help.

Sounds admirable at first but when we think about the repercussions of having no support can have on our health it is astounding.

It keeps us in a constant fight - or- flight, which increases cortisol levels and triggers systemic inflammation. It can disrupt our sleep making it difficult to fall asleep or get restorative rest.

Pulling yourself up by your boot straps actually creates separation because we then are so focused on this issue alone we don’t think to reach out.

This can cause us to fall even deeper into our minds which makes us feel like we are alone.

When we are alone we can not see the forest for the trees and our problems feel so huge.

When we do call for help when we need it, we are able to feel the caring words and presence of loved ones that can help find clarity.

We feel the strength of relationship and community that has the capacity to carry us through whatever problem we are facing.

When we do this life feels lighter and easier.

This is the exact type of work I do - supporting even the strongest of people when achieving their wellness goals feels tough.

Instead of trying to pull yourself up by your boot straps the work is to:

poke holes in the shame that you should have accomplished more by now

clarify what’s actually been in the way of moving forward - in your situation or inside of you.

work through these obstacles so that you can move forward, not in desperation, but with self compassion and energy

This is what happens when I work with clients - so that you can feel the strength of relationship and community that has the capacity to carry you through whatever problem you’re facing.

If you have been pulling yourself up by your boot straps and you are ready for support, reply back and let me know what resonated with you when you read this.

With wellness,

Catherine

Wellness Mentor | Massage Therapist

ASL & English

P.S. Interested in what it would be like to work with me? Me too!! Schedule a free Exploration Call to see if we are a good fit!