The Gift Of Self-Compassion

I just got off the phone with an amazing woman. She is successful, works hard to make the world a better place on a massive scale, and brings incredible value and humanity to everything she does; she is an inspiration to say the least. I am beyond thrilled she will be contributing to the upcoming Resiliency Lifestyle Summit and can’t wait to interview her!

As our conversation got more personal it got even more interesting–and cathartic. I’ll speak for myself, although at this point, I have heard the following sentiment more times than I can count.

Always being sunny is exhausting.

If there was ever a time to be more self-compassionate, this is it. Be loving and kind now; busy later. The Pollyanna in me can take a break (for now) and leave some space for me to feel whatever it is I’m feeling without judgment.

There is so much pressure, although much of it self-imposed, to be ‘doing just fine’ and to go on as if this were no big deal. We have so much “extra time” on our hands. We should be getting a lot done. We should be getting outside and exercising more. We should be catching up on all of the undone to-dos… Should, should, should…

It seems somewhat natural to expect that we could just keep going about our business, making the necessary technical adjustments to keep pace with the world, filling our time with productive activities, counting the silver linings (of which there are many), and always putting our best face forward. But I wonder, as I hear more and more people reveal secretly how relieved they are that they are not alone in wanting to take to bed, binge-watch Netflix, and munch through snacks they would not otherwise consider, what is most helpful in this situation…?

If it is permission to be more self-compassionate and gentle, I give it. YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO be kind to yourself, patient, and nonjudgmental. You will be more ready, willing and able to deal with whatever tomorrow brings if you take the best possible care of yourself you can today.

It has been so helpful for me to know that even those I admire most are going through the exact same issues I am in their own ways; needing extra down time, needing to be gentler and more patient with themselves, that things are taking longer and coming together more slowly than they planned, and being OK with it. It is reassuring to be reminded that this is not a race, not a competition, and that when we come together to support one another, commiserate, laugh, cry, scream, and just show up authentically as ourselves, together, this crazy time can be just as wonderful as any other.

It is all going to be OK.

To join the Resiliency Lifestyle Summit, click here.