I teach mindfulness to people from varied demographics. Still, there's a theme: a core wound of “not enough.”
Day 4: What's Real (self-compassion)
Yesterday, I accomplished a task that’s been on my to-list for 7 months. It only took 20 minutes. Rather than celebrating, I thought, “Why did I wait so long?” Today, I worked on a project, which I thought would take 2 hours yet extended far beyond that time (and it’s not yet complete). Again, the judgment, “Why is this taking so long?” as if it’s a personal flaw.
Take Care of You
Take a Pause
Though I entered “sheltering at home” with internal fire—creating new resources, revamping my website, moving classes to Zoom—I recognize the unsustainability of my pace. I was operating from a “sprint” mindset: move quickly, make changes, help everyone. Now I’ve shifted to a “marathon” mindset: move slowly, consider new ideas, help the person right in front of me.
The Vulnerability of Early Spring
Early spring is a tender time. A few trees bud; a few plants emerge. Late spring is a frenzy: everything grows and blooms. But early spring is for the brave. And this reminds me of human behavior. We don’t often reveal our tender, vulnerable places. Before we act, we wait for others (to know what’s “normal”). We seek external approval. At times, our choice comes from wisdom, but more often it comes from fear.