Many of the people who come to my classes are exhausted and longing for rest… longing just to be. Tired of pushing themselves, beating themselves up and the seemingly endless daily struggle.
Being kind, gentle and understanding with ourselves is not cultivated by our culture. Instead, we are taught that striving, pushing and competing will move us towards our dream life. We are led to believe that we are ‘human doers instead of ‘human beings’. This is simply untrue.
Is there another way than being harsh and judgmental on ourselves? YES
Here is a poem that I always read that reminds us to be compassionate and encouraging with ourselves… a much more constructive and intelligent decision!
I hope these wise words inspire you to give yourself permission to take it easy, to let up, rest and allow yourself to flourish.
If You Would Grow – Shine The Light Of Loving Self-Care On Yourself
If you would grow to your best self
Be patient, not demanding
Accepting, not condemning
Nurturing, not withholding
Self-marveling, not belittling
Gently guiding, not pushing and punishing
For you are more sensitive than you know
Mankind is as tough as war yet delicate as flowers
We can endure agonies but we open fully only to warmth and light
And our need to grow is as fragile as a fragrance Dispersed by storms of will
To return only when those storms are still
So, accept, respect, attend your sensitivity
A flower cannot be opened with a hammer.
– Daniel F. Mead
This blog was written by Joanne O’Malley, Mindfulness at Work.
