The sentinel situation is when we wait for someone’s formal permission to allow ourselves to do what we have long wanted to do. At the same time, permission is not so much for the action itself, but for the recognition that we can / it’s time / it’s time. Why do we do this and how to take responsibility for ourselves?
Periodically, I have situations that I call «hourly». There is such a children’s story by Leonid Panteleev, «Honest Word». About a boy who was called by older children to play and made him a sentry. They took his word of honor that he would stand at his post until he was removed from his post.
Well, the boy stood on his word of honor, and everyone forgot about him, played too much and dispersed. And so the author, in order to remove him from his post, had to find a real officer on the street, and that boy was officially allowed to leave.
So. The same situations happen in life. For example, we are really tired and it’s time to exhale. In the stream of days/cases/situations, we will drive ourselves all the way until someone with shoulder straps allows us to exhale. With shoulder straps are not necessarily real, of course.
Shoulder straps will be on whoever we give them to. This may be an important authority for us, a consultant, a psychologist, a doctor, a boss. The one to whom we hand over our word of honor, without even handing it over. We transfer responsibility for the removal from the post. At the same time, we note, stepping on the post. That is — voluntarily agreeing that we become sentries.
A lot has to do with it. For example, work as a watch, waiting for an attack.
Difficulties, tension, lack of opportunity to change — the one who is in uniform, he did not allow — how to change, since there is no order?
And if you think about it, then at some point, perhaps we will stop in front of the mirror and say: “My dear person. Submit your post. Give yourself permission to get out of this way. There are many cases where you do not need to be on duty with a rifle even when the rest have long gone home.
Because work and deeds are not a fight: everyone decides for himself how to live and work. Unless you’re in the military, of course. Although, as a person with experience in military service, I can say that even there you can easily reflash your attitude towards people with epaulettes, on which there are more stars than I have.
In general, when you plan to take up duty again, ask yourself: who gave me this post? Why am I going there again? And who should allow me to rest and when? Why shouldn’t I let myself do it?
In life, of course, there are very different circumstances. Sometimes nothing is more important than being on duty. The main thing to remember is that no one should take you off duty. This person is yourself.