This topic has come to me from many directions, so that must mean it is one of my main life assignments this semester ;).
Do you do self-compassion?
I read about Kristin Neff's book by the same title in Spirituality and Health, my favorite magazine. This week, I found it at the local library in the 7-day checkout section, so I brought it home. It is a must-read, I can tell.
I have friends who practice self-compassion, family members who do, a husband who coaches me in it. I learn from all these people...
I understand what Kristin Neff is saying. I know my inner need to chuck the absurd notion that life's a competition.
I never did get "self-esteem," as it was, in my opinion, marketed like a tangible good, a consumer item I could go out and buy, if I followed the right steps to get to the store, or had parents who followed the right parenting style, or something.
What I do get is that I want to give my children the gift of me in a healthy state of mind. And, believe me, I'm there sometimes. I am not there, though, when I'm on a self-judging jag. Oh no, I'm not.
And I'm timid about stepping away from the terra cognita of "you're only as good as the life you lead, the quality of work you put out, the cleanliness of your home or car or fingernails..."
That is enough for now. The compassionate thing for me to do for myself is to sleep.
