Often times we hear people saying that "She is my pillar of strength" or "He is my pillar of strength".
Are these pillars so called because of the extent of dependency on them? These pillars would be parents or spouse or sibling or a friend. These are the ones we turn to during tough times to be consoled or helped or sometimes just listened to. These entities are also the ones we share our joy with, during happy times. They have this aura of "I will take care of this. You don't worry" which draws us to them repeatedly, sometimes leading us to believe that we be completely lost without them.
So, who would we turn to when these entities are taken away from us for whatever reason? Go to pieces ? Find another such pillar of strength?
Wouldn't it be more beneficial, if these pillars helped the ones dependent on them, to find a source of strength which would never be taken away from them? A source of strength with lifetime warranty for oneself? Isn't that a very comforting, liberating and reassuring thought? A source of strength which will allow one to be a pillar for someone else?
In the journey to cope with all that life was throwing at me, my pillars while continuing to be so, have led me in their own ways to discover such a source. Life took a different hue after this self-discovery.
That source is within oneself.
Are these pillars so called because of the extent of dependency on them? These pillars would be parents or spouse or sibling or a friend. These are the ones we turn to during tough times to be consoled or helped or sometimes just listened to. These entities are also the ones we share our joy with, during happy times. They have this aura of "I will take care of this. You don't worry" which draws us to them repeatedly, sometimes leading us to believe that we be completely lost without them.
So, who would we turn to when these entities are taken away from us for whatever reason? Go to pieces ? Find another such pillar of strength?
Wouldn't it be more beneficial, if these pillars helped the ones dependent on them, to find a source of strength which would never be taken away from them? A source of strength with lifetime warranty for oneself? Isn't that a very comforting, liberating and reassuring thought? A source of strength which will allow one to be a pillar for someone else?
In the journey to cope with all that life was throwing at me, my pillars while continuing to be so, have led me in their own ways to discover such a source. Life took a different hue after this self-discovery.
That source is within oneself.
Your only real friend is you. Your only real enemy is you.You are an enemy to yourself to the degree you limit your Self. You are a friend to yourself to the degree you de-limit yourself -- Lester Levenson
ReplyDeleteWe all have this strength within ourselves. We will not know it until we dig deeper :)
Thank you for dropping by Savim, Golden words. :)
DeleteWouldn't it be more beneficial, if these pillars helped the ones dependent on them, to find a source of strength which would never be taken away from them?
ReplyDeleteYes, of course. That is the right way to adopt. :)
Thank you for dropping by Shail Mohan. :) Yes, one of life's quests :)
DeleteSo true Prathi. We can take inspiration from others but finally the onus is on the self.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Janu. No matter how much people support, cajole, coax us, if we don't find it within ourselves then all they do would be in vain.
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