Ah, self-compassion is a journey. I won't tell you how long I've been working on it. It's so tricky and so necessary. I truly think the root of all healing has to start with self-compassion. The more we are able to be truly compassionate with ourselves, the more we are able to show up for others. I highly recommend Kristin Neff's work on this subject. It's a worthwhile path, it's hard, keep going - and for goodness sakes start with being self-compassionate about how hard it is to root out all the places we are unkind to ourselves!
I'm very much looking forward to The Half Month Project. :) Have you seen the work of Ohn Mar Win? She combines watercolours with line drawing, so her style would be right up your alley.
As for the self-compassion, sigh. It's a process, and I don't know if anyone ever achieves it completely. I guess I have good days and bad days, as do most people. What helps me is a quote by John Steinbeck that I've written out and pasted above my desk: "Just set one day's work in front of the last day's work. That's the way it comes out. And that's the only way it does."
Dear Melinda, once again, your email gives me the feels. And once again, I really like your new painting!! The tree in the breeze is such a beautiful image, and the colours you’ve chosen, intentional or not, give it such a melancholy vibe. I would gladly hang that on my wall, ok? 👊🏻
Which brings me to my next comment - by far the most powerful spiritual and self compassion teacher I’ve ever had was Louise Hay. She sadly passed a few years ago and the world is a sadder place for it. Here’s what she suggested as the most powerful technique to silence the inner critique and heal everything : look in the mirror and tell the person you see, out loud, “I love you. You’re beautiful, talented, kind, and deserving of all the things you want and yearn for in your life.” The last sentence is my own, you can add whatever affirmation you want, whatever speaks to you and is authentic. But always, always begin with “I love you.” The first time I did it, well, I tried to do it and couldn’t. I couldn’t say the words looking myself in the eye. It felt stupid, corny and most of all, I didn’t mean it. Not at the time. That alone told me I needed to break through and heal and love myself. I have a whole list of affirmations written from my heart, and even though I don’t recite them every day anymore, I take out the list and read them aloud often. It always begins and ends with my love for myself. Say it. Listen to it. Believe it. Trust your voice and KNOW it. You might cry as you do it, and congratulations if you do, because then you’ll know you’re on the path to self compassion. Love and light, MJ
I heard of self-compassion for the first time
Ah, self-compassion is a journey. I won't tell you how long I've been working on it. It's so tricky and so necessary. I truly think the root of all healing has to start with self-compassion. The more we are able to be truly compassionate with ourselves, the more we are able to show up for others. I highly recommend Kristin Neff's work on this subject. It's a worthwhile path, it's hard, keep going - and for goodness sakes start with being self-compassionate about how hard it is to root out all the places we are unkind to ourselves!
I'm very much looking forward to The Half Month Project. :) Have you seen the work of Ohn Mar Win? She combines watercolours with line drawing, so her style would be right up your alley.
As for the self-compassion, sigh. It's a process, and I don't know if anyone ever achieves it completely. I guess I have good days and bad days, as do most people. What helps me is a quote by John Steinbeck that I've written out and pasted above my desk: "Just set one day's work in front of the last day's work. That's the way it comes out. And that's the only way it does."
Dear Melinda, once again, your email gives me the feels. And once again, I really like your new painting!! The tree in the breeze is such a beautiful image, and the colours you’ve chosen, intentional or not, give it such a melancholy vibe. I would gladly hang that on my wall, ok? 👊🏻
Which brings me to my next comment - by far the most powerful spiritual and self compassion teacher I’ve ever had was Louise Hay. She sadly passed a few years ago and the world is a sadder place for it. Here’s what she suggested as the most powerful technique to silence the inner critique and heal everything : look in the mirror and tell the person you see, out loud, “I love you. You’re beautiful, talented, kind, and deserving of all the things you want and yearn for in your life.” The last sentence is my own, you can add whatever affirmation you want, whatever speaks to you and is authentic. But always, always begin with “I love you.” The first time I did it, well, I tried to do it and couldn’t. I couldn’t say the words looking myself in the eye. It felt stupid, corny and most of all, I didn’t mean it. Not at the time. That alone told me I needed to break through and heal and love myself. I have a whole list of affirmations written from my heart, and even though I don’t recite them every day anymore, I take out the list and read them aloud often. It always begins and ends with my love for myself. Say it. Listen to it. Believe it. Trust your voice and KNOW it. You might cry as you do it, and congratulations if you do, because then you’ll know you’re on the path to self compassion. Love and light, MJ