“our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future”
nelson mandela
dear muse,
in a world where we often extend kindness and understanding to others, it's crucial to remember that you deserve compassion too
mistakes are human, often necessary, sometimes grave…
what we must try to do, is extend ourselves compassion in our growth…
to change our thoughts and behaviors for the better…
otherwise, how do we heal?
enjoy this week's love letter...
*all photos are links to more information, the bookshop.org link is an affiliate link
our meditation or playlist
as we focus on self-compassion, let's begin with a meditation
this one really struck me
when you're feeling overwhelmed, struggling with difficult emotions, or simply need a moment of comfort, this meditation can help you bring kindness and care to yourself
dr kristin neff
our podcast or playlist
loving ourselves is not easy
this episode's practice is about giving yourself permission to be kind to yourself – on the good days, the bad ones, and especially when you feel like you have to pretend that everything is OK
why self-compassion is an essential practice
with dr kristin neff & dr alexandra solomon
our journal prompt
self-compassion is not self-pity
self-compassion is not self-indulgence
self-compassion is not self-esteem
five myths about self-compassion
from self-compassion.org
our book selection
now, for a change
a love story
a twenty year old chinese painter named stephenis sent to his family's summer homein a japanese coastal village to recover from a bout with tuberculosis
here he is cared for by matsu, a reticent housekeeper and a master gardener
over the course of a remarkable year, stephen learns matsu's secret and gains not only physical strength, but also profound spiritual insight
by gail tsukiyama
finally, our film selection
lastly, a film telling the story of my favorite superman, christopher reeve
reeve's rise to becoming a film star follows with a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down
after the accident, he became an activist for spinal cord injury treatments and disability rights
super/man: the christopher reeve story
on hbo max
your ritual
A RITUAL OF RADICAL COMPASSION FROM JE MÉRITE, I DESERVE, FOR HOLDING YOURSELF WITH GRACE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT
compassion isn’t just for when you’ve done everything right
it’s for the messy middle, the almosts, the not-yet-healed
it’s a reminder to show yourself kindness, even when you’re imperfect
a social media detox many of us have become so used to posting everything we do, like, see and experience on social media; give yourself a little self-love by reducing your screen time; most of us get the feeling that our lives are less fun and spontaneous than others; this doesn’t do any good for your mindset; so, let go of the phone for a few hours this week
listen to your body do you need a warm bath? a refreshing stroll in the park? a piece of chocolate? listen to what your body is telling you; listen to it whispering, so it doesn't have to scream
surround yourself with lovely things soft fabrics, beautiful affirmation candles, your most beautiful (and comfortable) je mérite loungewear... transform your house into a home, you’ll be surprised how good you feel when you pay attention to yourself and your surroundings in this way
in closing
let this week be a return to the self
to knowing that you are allowed to mess up, to slow down, and to begin again
with love and compassion,
tamara charese
as always, affirmations from previous weeks are available here
Leave a comment