QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It is a beautiful experience being with ourselves at a level of complete acceptance. When that begins to happen, when you give up resistance and needing to be perfect, a peace will come over you as you have never known.”
– Ruth Fishel
IDEA OF THE DAY
Last week, we focused on selecting 1-3 words to guide us through the year. One of my chosen words is “kindness,” and I’d like to explore why I chose this word and how it might apply to all of us.
Being kind to others is a fundamental life skill we learn early on—whether from our families, at school, or within our communities. We understand the value of sharing, cooperation, and being friendly.
However, being kind to ourselves is often a different story. Too often, we push ourselves to do better, try harder, and give more in an effort to feel “enough.” We might shame ourselves for making mistakes and harshly judge any action that falls short of perfection. The inner unkindness can take up a lot of space and energy.
After spending a week in silent retreat, I became super aware of this habit of unkindness towards myself. I remember one instance when I wanted to get a cup of tea during a walking meditation. The inner judgment came rushing in: “It’s not time for tea! You need to focus on meditating! If you take a break now, others will think you’re a flake!”
It was eye-opening to see how quickly unkind thoughts flooded in over something as simple as wanting tea. This experience made me realize that I could be kinder to myself—and it’s something I really want to practice more. How can I speak to myself with more kindness? What small gestures of kindness can I offer myself to create more balance in my day? When do I naturally ease into self-compassion, and how can I cultivate more of that feeling?
With consistent practice, the muscle of self-compassion and kindness will strengthen. And, over time, I hope it becomes so ingrained that my mind naturally leans into being supportive and nurturing. Will you join me on this quest for self-kindness? Let’s go!
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What is something you would like to nurture more of for yourself this year?