Treat Yourself Gently

It may take a while to learn to be gentle with ourselves. We may have long standing patterns of just not being kind to ourselves. Maybe we became this way because we were victims. And now, it is easier to attack ourselves for mistakes we’ve made, rather than be accountable and to make amends. We can sometimes think that we deserve to be rejected if we let our friends know our deepest secrets. In the midst of stress we can fly into a storm of self doubt and self abusing thoughts. We can withdraw emotionally, we pout, we expect rejection rather than gentleness.

For today - let us pledge to be gentle with ourselves. Gentleness isn’t dishonest; it isn’t arrogant or self centred. It is taking reality - with whatever pain that includes - and treating ourselves as worthwhile and deserving of kindness. We will be stronger and less egocentric when we can accept this gentleness. We can be loyal to ourselves as we are to our best friends. Each day with this attitude can and will build strength of character and wisdom. 

On this day - and all days, may you treat yourselves with gentleness and learn the strength it has to teach you.