Ok, in response to Kat’s most recent post, I’m going to go into controversial territory a little.

Kat I may have misread you a little, but I got the sense, a bit, that you are putting pressure on yourself both to face the challenges AND TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THEM.

I wonder. Does that pressure on ourselves to successfully navigate through challenges also contribute to not even wanting to make the effort?

Could we give ourselves total carte blanche to simply do the best we can, and see what happens?

And what happens may well not be pleasant or look good or feel good. And in our culture, god knows how many messages we receive suggesting that we really SHOULD look good and feel good.

For you, could ‘handling the challenges’ also include having a (metaphorical!) piece taken out of you now and then? Surviving some bruising?

Obviously bruises are not what I wish anyone, esp you!, but I think it’s an invetible part of this life of ours. We don’t have it in us to do it right all the time. Also, sometimes stuff truly IS out of our control (here’s where I take issue with some of the success-oriented messages).

Can we live with that? Or will we increase our internal pressure to manage life as flawlessly as we (erroneously, I think) believe we can?

Just some thoughts from one financial pilgrim to another.