Ok, I know this will be controversial but I was never one to shy away from a discussion! I had a thought this week which concerned me. Anyone who knows me will know that I love my crystals (amethyst (what a surprise) and clear quartz particularly) and that I usually carry some crystals with me. I’ll often have a small smooth crystal or two shoved discreetly down my bra (a lot more comfortable than it sounds) and I often carry a drawstring pouch with my favourite crystals nestled within it. The pouch hangs off my shoulder even at work. 

Why do I do this? Because it feels comforting, because I like to draw strength from them when things get tough particularly at work and because I can. I find that holding a crystal when I’m feeling a little stressed, perplexed, worried or frustrated helps me focus and can keep me calm. All great stuff I reckon until I wondered if my crystals had become a crutch rather than simply a tool to refocus my inner strengths. I really questioned myself here and searched my motivation and reasons for using my crystals. Had I become so dependent on them that they had replaced my own strengths? Horror! Was I actually a ‘cyrstalholic’? Did I have a crystal dependency problem? Was I a crystal addict? 

Seriously now, and no offence intended to anyone (heaven knows in reality my very real addiction is chocolate – just ask my partner!) I came to the conclusion that my crystals were still a tool rather than a crutch. I realised that I could live my life quite easily without them and in fact I don’t have them with me every day, most days admittedly but not everyday.  

The more I thought it through, the more I realised that we all use a variety of objects, rituals, habits and behaviours to help us steer through life’s challenges. One of my best friends is clearly addicted to coffee and that’s something she absolutely needs in order to get going each morning. My partner loves reading the paper on a Sunday morning and apart from that having become his Sunday morning ritual, it’s something he frets for if it doesn’t happen. I bet we all have behaviours or little objects we use regularly that have become our ritualised ways of coping or at least support mechanisms. But having said that, most of us still have enough inner strength to cope even when our much loved object or behaviour is missing. I love my crystals but I also equally have enough self strength to get through life without a crutch if I have to, well maybe with the exception of chocolate.

Smiles and blessings, Amethyst