The Golden Goose:  A Metaphor for Self Care

I was listening to Stephen Covey's audio-book of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People in my car this month. Dr. Covey told the story of the Golden Goose.  The farmer discovered his goose had laid a golden egg.  With excitement, he sold the egg and became rich.  Each day the goose laid another golden egg.  The farmer grew increasingly rich with each golden egg.  Finally, the farmer grew impatient.  He wanted all of the golden eggs, and he wanted them now.  He killed the goose to get all of the golden eggs that were inside her.  There were none.  Yet, if he had let the goose live, he'd have had a golden egg every day.  Dr. Covey used this story to teach the difference between production (the golden egg) and production capability (the golden goose).  One day while I was listening to his book in my car, I had a different revelation.  

I was a little stressed because I was so very busy.  It was summer vacation from my full time elementary teaching job, but I had been asked to teach a summer workshop for teachers at a local university. The class had just started a week before, and my co-teacher and I hit the ground running.  We were meeting, checking assignments, answering questions, preparing lessons, getting everyone online, run, run, run.  

I already  know this about myself, that during times of stress or busyness, my self care decreases.  My house gets messy. The mail piles up instead of getting dealt with. I don't want to cook healthy foods; I just want to eat quick meals. I don't always exercise or take time to relax. I don't get enough sleep. But this was my summer vacation.  This was supposed to be my time of self care, self renewal, and rest from my full time job. This was bumping around in the back of my mind as I was listening to Stephen Covey's book.  He once again referenced the golden goose, and I had an aha moment! 

We are the golden goose!  If we take care of ourselves, we will get more golden eggs. If we get enough sleep, we will be more productive at work. If we eat right, we will have more energy. If we exercise, we will release some of the stress and feel calmer. If we take time to be with family and have fun, we will clear our minds and be able to solve problems when we return to them. 

On the other hand, if we don't take care of ourselves, if we give in to the stress and become workaholics, like I am apt to do, we don't get any golden eggs. Our health suffers.  Our relationships suffer. Our mood suffers. Our performance eventually suffers.  If we kill the goose, there are no golden eggs inside. 

We are the golden goose.  What can we do to take care of our golden goose?  How can we nurture the golden goose inside each of us to keep her alive so we will reap the benefits of the golden eggs?  What better time to figure this out than now?