Self-Compassion?
What? How? Why Bother?
Hey, friends.
March continues to hold on to Winter—Winter continues to hold on to March.
Is this the longest month in the entire Universe of Months?
I’ve been pondering self-compassion this week. Can I bear my low spirits?
Can I manage my negativity? Can I befriend my anxiety?
Sometimes yes. Sometimes, no, not really.
Here are some questions I’ve been pondering; I share them with you:
What is self-compassion?
Does it even matter?
How does it show up in your life?
Why is it sometimes so —hard?
Other times, so easy??
What assures the success of your self-compassion in your life?
What are its gifts to you?
I’m delighted to share with you this five-minute guided meditation on self-compassion. See where it lands for you. Perhaps it holds no answers; perhaps it offers just a few minutes to sit and breathe, to relax, to bring compassionate listening to yourself.
~~~
Did the meditation hold any comfort for you?
Any spaciousness?
Any self-connection?
Self-compassion?
Please feel free to let me know.
~~~
This song comforted me this week. I’m not sure why. Maybe because it’s so familiar? Yet I’m hearing it in such a different moment of life and of time. The song’s capacity to engage me, to interest me, to hold me has been powerful.
Bob Dylan composed the soundtrack for the 1973 Western film, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Dylan also acted in movie, portraying the support role of “Alias”, a mysterious and knife-throwing member of Billy’s gang. Dylan of course wrote this iconic song for the film’s score, and here it is. See how it touches you:
~~~
Friends,
Here we sit, right here,
Right now.
Here we are, right here,
Right now.
May we wrap around ourselves
The most delicious blanket
Of self-compassion—
Regardless of externals,
Regardless of the moment,
May be bring tenderness,
And soft strength
To ourselves.
May all beings benefit from our time together.
In gratitude,
In possibility,
In wise hope,
All blessings,
Aruni