We have to slay our own dragons

Sometimes I can be a bit 'brutal' when I'm working one-on-one with people. When people make contact with me they are obviously seeking help, and this sets the scene and tone of our professional relationship, which, on the surface, simply looks like 'helpee meets helper'. However, while it is so important to listen and support people with where they are currently at, at some point it is equally as important to help by not helping!
What I have found is there seems to be a fine line between supporting and rescuing someone. 'Overhelping' can often prevent a person fully experiencing their own grief, anger, aloneness, etc ... Not that any of these feelings are in any way, shape or form comfortable! But facing these things with the right support is where the growth and freedom is. Let's be realistic though, none of us is going to say no to someone coming into our lives on a white charger, slaying the dragon, while wiping our tears, and running off with us to the safety of a nice warm cave! (Sorry I don't know what the equivalent might be for a bloke!)
However, while this might have to happen at least once or twice in our lives, at some point we need to be tackling our own dragons otherwise we will forever remain the victim and stay stuck in our stress cycles. The only way out of a cycle - is THROUGH it - via experiencing it, and if we are fortunate enough, we will have some strong supports in place so we don't do it alone. This is more than just a belief of mine, this has been my experience - again and again and again and one which will continue. Often it is an external situation which has found us in the position that we are in, however, if it's already happened then we can no longer control it! What we do have though, is some control on how we tackle it. To experience fully our own human-ness is often seen as too scary, yet it is often harder to wake up each day fighting and resisting what we know needs to change, than it is to try and understand it and give something new a go. If we find ourselves stuck in a destructive cycle then obviously that suggests that something needs to be different. So for those who are struggling to the point where it is impacting negatively on your life, on the plus side, you have an advantage if you recognise that something needs to change and it needs to involve you, which is a step further than those who are still in denial and are waiting for their white charger. When I faced my own depression, I knew I was a victim but I didn't know how to move forward. I certainly realised that to deny my thoughts and feelings only compounded things, it was like they were nipping at my heels constantly seeking my attention and consuming my every move, or should I say NON move. They took their toll eventually and I was forced to seek help, as the negative impact on my relationships and quality of life became too great. We can hide our thoughts from others but we can never hide them from ourselves - at some point we have to face ourselves - and trust me - it's easier to go through than it is to avoid. Our self discoveries can be scary, but they are also enlightening, empowering and can give us freedom way beyond what we ever thought was possible. How do I know? Because I survived my own worst enemy ... me! ...