Being here

If you’ve visited my blog before, you may know that I’m working on getting a PhD in Being Me.  What does getting a PhD in Being Me mean these days while I am off work to take care of my physical and mental health?  It means:

• Being here and with myself as I live my life.
• Being compassionate with myself as I learn more about me and my needs.
• Developing the inner awareness and courage to notice and act on my needs.
• Getting to know the parts of me that are protecting my most hurt parts, and feeling how very tired they are through Internal Family Systems work.
• Noticing when I am putting pressure on myself to get better faster and choosing to have compassion for myself whenever possible.
• Being here for the days when I just want to be better, and knowing that I’m not always aiming for an A+ in getting a PhD in Being Me, especially on the hard days.  Just being with myself is enough, and that equally counts towards my PhD in Being Me.  And so does all the work I am doing to support myself, which ranges from working with healthcare professionals for my physical and mental health, to making time for fun, lying on the couch, reading, crying and spending time outside.
• Receiving kindness from others, like my friend who told me about new research that shows that chronic fatigue syndrome can be genetic.  She encouraged me to switch from being hard on myself for having chronic fatigue to managing my symptoms as best as I can.  That kindness went straight to my heart ❤️.
• Developing my intuition and inner compass by trusting what I feel inside.  For example, trying out what a healthcare professional recommends but noticing if it helps or makes me feel worse, and following what is best for me.
• Giving myself permission to be exactly as I am.  I’ve been off work for nearly a year, and I’m still coming down from working these last several years with debilitating fatigue. As I relax more into myself and learn more about my realities, I am realizing how exhausted I truly am 💕. 

May this post inspire you to give yourself a hug and know that I send you one too. 

Take care, Bradlee

©️ Bradlee Zrudlo 2025. All Rights Reserved.