Not Better, Just Whole

From the Light Seer's Tarot, the Four of Cups; from the Tapestry Oracle, Devotion:

Mirror neurons are bound to be activated when we work with emotionally difficult situations. Mindfulness, especially of what’s going on in the body, allows us to be aware of the impact that these situations are having on us. ~Pamela Gayle White

The combination of these cards suggest how being devoted can leave us feeling fatigued and flattened when we don't practice self-care and compassion. It's easy to fall into one of two mindsets: either self-pity ("no one knows what I put up with") or guilt ("why can't I be a good person"). Of course neither of those is beneficial. Being mindful can turn our thoughts away from our struggles and point them toward resources and other options. We can acknowledge that no one has the power to fix every problem, make everyone happy or create major change on their own. We also need to realize that self-care and self-compassion are not self-help practices - they are not meant to make us a better person, but a more whole and well person. 

[I]f we don’t maintain a balance between our work and the nourishment we need, we won’t be very successful... getting in touch with the refreshing and healing elements inside and around us is crucial for our survival. ~Thich Nhat Hanh