There was a very clear theme to this past week for me, and it was all about support. What kind of support do I have around me, and is it the kind and quality of support that I really require right now? And if not, what needs to happen to ensure that I am healthy, happy, and able to show up in my life as the woman that I know I’m here to be?

This is how I think about things. I don’t give a second thought to lining up support for myself, and I’m vigilant about whether that support is truly supporting me, or if it only appears to be – because there is a BIG difference between the two! I also watch for those places where I start to settle for less, come up with reasons why I can’t have the level of support I require, and how I might even tell myself that I can do it all.

Some very crucial pieces in my support system were functioning at a very “sub-par” level this week, and I really felt it. I felt myself go into hyper-drive and become a force of nature to make up for that lack. This is an old pattern for me, and it’s great to know I can do this when it’s really necessary.

But then I felt my body go into exhaustion, and overwhelm. I heard a very clear NO from my body – as in, “No Alicia, you can’t keep this up.” That was a sobering moment for me, and I’m so grateful that I caught it as quickly as I did, and that I listened to this wisdom!

I realized I’d been settling for less support than I really need. I also reminded myself about how incredibly important it is that I prioritize myself and my needs, and that I don’t compromise on the level of support that I really desire and require. It’s not selfish, it’s not “too much”, and it’s not some over-the-top luxury that’s frivolous, or unnecessary.

I believe every woman needs more support in her life than she has.

That support can look like awesome girlfriends who uplift you in a brief phone conversation, or a reliable house cleaner who takes that list of chores off your to do list, a personal assistant who runs your errands, someone who steps in to help with childcare, a coach who keeps you focused on choosing and creating your dreams, desires and goals, or a private Pilates instructor who really helps you to create the physical strength and poise you require to navigate through your life in a beautiful, pain-free way.

When you know you can’t keep up with your life, I invite you to get clear on what you want your life to look and feel like. If you’re not living that, what needs to happen so that you are? It’s time to stop suffering, struggling and slipping into a state of perpetual exhaustion and resentment about your life. It’s time to look at how you are supporting yourself, and how others can support you, too.

Be your own advocate. There are no rewards for suffering!