Some Thoughts on Self-Compassion

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Self-compassion and self-love are things that pop into my head from time to time.

We spend so much time wanting and waiting to love someone and for someone to love us.

What if, instead of that, we love the person who is the most important part of our life with that same energy, tenderness, affection, belief, understanding, patience, grace, support, and enthusiasm that we’re seeking to give someone else? (And also seeking from someone else.)

Yes. I’m talking about loving ourselves.

No, I’m not saying we all should abandon relationships with other people. I love people, and we are a social species. We need other people; other people need us. To show up for others we need to show up for ourselves, and to me, that means loving myself. That means showing compassion, grace, and courage for myself.

I don’t know when it became hip to self-flagellate. I don’t know why it’s almost expected for us to constantly self-deprecate and almost undermine our efforts.

Hating one’s self seems to always be in style. 

But it’s a style I don’t like and refuse to wear.

I genuinely do not hate myself. I can’t even pretend to hate myself. I love me. I delight in my me-ness daily. Like Marcel the Shell with Shoes On says, I like that about myself.

None of this is coming from the ego. I'm not perfect, nor do I claim to be. I’m not out here thinking I’m the greatest person alive or who ever lived. But I am championing loving yourself as much as you love others. It does not solve your problems, but in my experience, it makes things easier.

PS - I know humans are adaptable, but I am baffled as to how I am going to adapt to rising temperatures. The past two weeks in Boston destroyed me. So to help combat climate change, I signed up for Wren. If you sign up for Wren using my referral link, Wren will plant five trees for your subscription AND five more simply because you used my link! Yay trees!