Welcome to this week's self-compassion missing video.
I'm taking a risk being so transparent here, but letting you know how I felt this week—just too tired to shoot a video—feels important to me.
Why?
Because on the self-compassion journey, we simply MUST be honest about how we are feeling in order to choose the kindest things for ourselves. And if didn't choose the kindest thing consistently, I would be a fake and a phony. And I would have NO business teaching about self-compassion.
So the truth of the matter is, I have spent the last two weeks (off and on) caring for my youngest daughter in another city. She has chronic health issues and is now dealing with a new round of horrible pain. Of course, as her mother, I flew to her side to help as best I could. I wanted and needed to be there.
At the same time, I was also leading the "Self-Compassion Sadhana" online and had lessons to create each day. (Thank goodness, have computer will travel). It was ALOT to handle.
While gone and care-taking, I paced myself very well. Got good rest, ate just right, even napped. I made self-compassionate
choices all the time. I believe I got an A for self-compassion!
However, I still arrived home Sunday night really tired. So I've been resting up since then. Doing a little bit of work at my desk, napping, and taking daily walks. But when it came to getting up enough energy to shoot a TKT video this week, I
did not have the gumption.
Honestly, I struggled with this issue for a while; danced a heated tango with "the mighty shoulds." And then gave in to the voice of self-compassion which said, "Rest. Give yourself permission to NOT do this." So I did!
One of the things we simply must do on this SC path is to give ourselves permission when we need to. Permission to say no to some things and yes to ourselves;
permission to stop and rest when we need it; permission to let go of inner pressures to do it all and do it perfectly. Permission to care for ourselves in the moment so we are as well as possible.
So this week, there is no video.
What am presenting, instead, is a Guided Practice for resting: "Resting into the Breath."
Resting into life as it is.
May you give yourself permission to do the kindest thing when you need it the most. Rest if you need to. Be good to you!
Love, Jan
Jan Lundy
Spiritual Director/Mentor, Educator and
Author
