A client was recently talking with me about how she wanted to focus on being more kind to herself.
And it was a really important and beautiful reminder on how we can so easily be kind to others and then be harsh with ourself.
And today we're going to explore this idea together.
Welcome to Grounded with Wendy.
Let your body settle in and let your thoughts soften.
Arrive right here together.
And as we focus on kindness for ourselves,
First maybe just acknowledging that to many of us it's the hardest place to begin.
But it can also be the most transformative.
When we catch ourselves having conversations that are demeaning or demoralizing or harsh,
It can really keep us in an unsteady state.
And maybe let's start by just thinking of a time when someone was deeply kind to you.
Maybe it was simply,
You know,
Let's just go small.
A stranger holding the door when your hands were full.
Or someone just called and reached out to say I'm thinking about you.
And let this small moment of kindness that was gifted to you come into your memory and go into your body and name how that feels to you.
Maybe a sense of warmth,
An unexpected connection,
Maybe you're even surprised.
Now consider when the last time you offer that kindness to yourself.
Again it's so easy to be harsh with ourselves.
We whisper criticisms in our mind and use words we would never say to people who are important to us,
Our loved ones.
And we often push through pain,
We ignore our own needs,
And we call it strength.
But real strength is gentleness.
Real healing starts with compassion for being tender to the tired parts of us that are doing our best.
So I'm going to share a couple of mantras with you and if you would like place a hand on your heart and repeat these mantras silently or out loud,
Whatever you're comfortable with.
I offer myself the same kindness I give so freely to others.
Breathe that in.
Let's bring to mind a recent moment when you were struggling and felt hard on yourself.
Maybe things were messy,
Maybe a mistake was made and you just didn't feel like you were doing enough.
And this mantra is,
I am worthy of tenderness and love even in my messiness and imperfections.
Breathe that in.
And now let's come back to just this moment where we are sitting together and breathe in this mantra of kindness begins with me.
And the offering this week or this day is to remember that kindness is not weakness.
It's how we grow.
It's how we connect.
It can really bring us into the present moment when we practice kindness for ourselves.
When we water our own roots with kindness,
We bloom.
And when we bloom,
That is a gift to other people also.
It gives them permission to do the same.
And as you enter into your day or evening,
Thank yourself for giving yourself a few minutes of kindness and let's let that ripple outward.
Thank you for meditating with me.
