Feeling nurtured with self-compassion

“Self compassion is nurturing yourself with all the kindness and love you would shower on someone you cherish”.

-Debra Reble

Picture how you interact with a close friend or much-loved family member. You listen when they need support, you remind them to take breaks and not work so hard, and you're a kind voice when they're hard on themselves. You most likely remind that friend of who they are when life feels discouraging, and you probably have a sense of humour around their quirks and human flaws.
Today's reflection:

Are you compassionate with your own imperfections, mistakes, and hard times? Today you’re invited to practice being gentle with yourself, and to notice what your habitual response to difficulty is. This week, set a reminder on your phone for midday. Pause for a minute and recall what your thoughts were when an issue or difficulty came up that morning. Were you hard on yourself? Were you compassionate or forgiving?  

"Where do you get into the trance of unworthiness, of not okay?" -Tara Brach

3 ways to build self-compassion:

❣Start the day with 1 self-appreciation. Think of a personal quality you respect or feel proud of in yourself. Say it out loud, and smile as you do it! This helps in really celebrating and owning what you've said. 

❣After a busy day, re-fill your love bank. Recall something in your day that was uncomfortable or disappointing, and acknowledge how you felt. Give yourself a hug and let the earlier disappointment melt away. 

❣Make a kindness list. Write down all the kindness and care you show loved ones. Be specific in saying what actions you take. Spend 5-10 minutes writing, then circle 2 things you could do to help you feel more okay during a hard week. This helps give you permission to show yourself TLC in ways you might not have thought about. 

Here is a 10-minute self-compassion meditation with Tara Brach, one of my favourite meditation teachers. Get comfortable and enjoy listening 💛

https://www.tarabrach.com/meditation-the-rain-of-self-compassion/

Karyn Davies, Registered Clinical Counsellor

Karyn empowers clients to live with passion, authenticity, and trust. Her support enhances self-esteem and promotes a regular self-care practice, while celebrating client progress in feeling more grounded, capable, and present to life's joys and challenges. 

www.evokemedicine.com/karyn-davies-rcc

www.refreshcounsellingvancouver.com

Love letters to self

Love letters from the street:

I was thrilled to find this phrase on a brick wall in my neighbourhood. How delightful that people are creating uplifting public art!  It is a nice complement to a book I've been reading: Brene Brown's Daring Greatly. I am grateful to Brene for her consciousness around vulnerability, and for bringing this concept more into my  awareness. She is transparent about her own process of living with vulnerability, and I feel like this book is offering a way to trail blaze through my own life stories and explore them with curiosity. Or meander through them perhaps:)

This concept of vulnerability offers lots to chew on, and is prompting me to notice the moments when uncomfortable emotions arise for me, and to welcome them as normal aspects of being alive, seeing my own  own unique kind of vulnerability, as well as the common threads shared by others.

I am seeing more fully how  being a courageous, vibrant human being means encountering the layers of vulnerable feelings with a softer gaze.

This quote resonates with me:

The most valuable and important things in my life came to me when I cultivated the courage to be vulnerable, imperfect, and self-compassionate.

What  love letter will you write to yourself today?

-KD