Excommunicating From the Cult of Accomplishment

Posted by Jill McLaughlin (Grunewald) on Jun 09, 2015

Recently, my friend and colleague Jamie Greenwood wrote to me saying:

“I believe that when the body goes into illness, it’s not trying to spite or betray us but rather, is attempting to speak our deepest truth that has yet to be expressed.

Photo: the lovely Jamie Greenwood >

“In other words, the body knows everything.  

“She is the home of our truth and if we don’t express it, SHE WILL, in all kinds of forms including autoimmune diseases, anxiety, depression, joint pain, etc.

“I also believe women often use ‘perfect’ eating, excessive exercise, controlling every little thing that goes into their mouths, and obsessing about their health as a way numb out to what is MOST true for them, which of course impacts how they think about themselves and their greater work in the world. 

“I would love to interview you for my new series, The Coming Home Project and talk about your personal struggles with your body and your big ah-has in listening to her, as we always have a new edge to push in our personal journey.  

“If you’re down with this, I’d also love to discuss your adrenal fatigue/thyroid concerns and its impact on how you used to think about your body and how you connect/think about her now.

“So, are you in?”

I said, “Yes!” (Short video: 22 min.)

Jamie and I talk about how to take charge of our health without “gripping” our healing and the impact our obsession with productivity has on our health and long-term wellness.

It’s Jamie who introduced me to the concept of “the cult of accomplishment.”

My reaction: I’m a card-carrying member!

Sure, we all want to be accomplished, but there is such thing as too much of a good thing.

Pushing and striving, without appropriate rest and respite, is antithetical to the healing that needs to take place when the adrenals (and thyroid) are taxed and need nourishment and support.

Are you a cult member? Many of my friends and clients indeed are. It’s epidemic.

It’s time we free ourselves. Nothing good ever came out of a cult.

 

Posted by Jill McLaughlin (Grunewald) on Jun 09, 2015

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“I also believe women often use ‘perfect’ eating, excessive exercise, controlling every little thing that goes into their mouths, and obsessing about their health as a way numb out to what is MOST true for them, which of course impacts how they think about themselves and their greater work in the world.

I excitedly clicked in to read this article....but what exactly did the above mean....really...

What  did that mean...

Submitted by resmiye dickinson on June 11, 2015 - 11:49pm

Very good question: We all have struggles in our lives. Perhaps we're in an unhealthy relationship or wish we were further in our career. Often, if we aren't ready or able to acknowledge, hold and express our feelings, we numb to them.  "Perfect" eating, excessive exercise and obsessing about our health become ways to busy ourselves, to keep our mind racing rather than facing the larger themes under our health and body concerns. 

It's easier to worry about our bodies that see what's wrong in our relationships. Easier to think we need to be thinner or healthier or live up to some impossible standard than admit we are unhappy in our careers. Yes, body image issues are real AND we must look at how they've come to be, why we let them take precedence and how we use them to avoid concerns that ultimately keep us from the life we want.

Submitted by Jamie Greenwood on June 12, 2015 - 12:14pm

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