A Letter of Self-Compassion

This week I’ve been taking part in Tara Brach’s radical compassion challenge. I haven’t kept up with all of it, but I’ve been dipping in when I can. And every little bit I’ve dipped into has been so valuable. There are still a few days left (it’s on until the 30^th of Jan) so if you’re not already following it, I’d highly recommend it. One of the day’s tasks involved writing yourself a compassion letter. This week after having a few days of feeling a little better, I was suddenly wiped out again. That was the day I most needed my self-compassion so I’ve written a letter to myself for days like that, and I thought I’s share.

Dear Julie,

It sucks that you’re having another bad day. It sucks that you can’t function again today. It sucks that you seemed to be picking up and then today happened. It sucks that even though you’ve be so careful not to do too much, that it seems as though you may have done. It sucks that your baseline is so low that you can achieve so little even on your good days. It sucks that today will have to be focused on resting. It sucks that all you can do today is make yourself as comfortable as possible while you wait for the worst to pass.

It’s totally understandable that you feel frustrated. It’s totally understandable that you feel fed up and resigned. These feelings are a normal and natural response to what you are experiencing right now. You are allowed to feel these things.

I hear that you have a need to be productive. I hear that you want to serve your purpose and share. I hear that you want to feel valuable. I hear that you want to stand on your own two feet.

But all is going to be OK, you don’t have to ‘do’ to be valuable. You are valuable just exactly as you are right now. You are loved. You are supported. You don’t have to stand on your own two feet. You are perfect just in your ‘being’. The universe has got your back.

So, allow yourself just to ‘be’ today. If you need to be grumpy and resigned that is perfectly OK. But if you get fed up of that remember that you have skills. When you remember to be grateful for your e-reader, and the authors that entertain you, it changes the flavour of your resting. You could even imagine that you are luxuriating in your restfulness out of choice, that changes the flavour too. Remember that when you look around you and find something small to appreciate and be grateful for, it makes things feel better. Remember that burning essential oils can lift your spirit when you’re feeling like this too.

If you don’t feel like doing any of that, it’s OK, you’re allowed to be how you are today. You don’t have to push yourself to be different or strive to be positive. You can trust that without resistance, this too will pass. You can trust that all work out by simply letting yourself ‘be’.

I love you! I wish you peace in your being today.

Your compassionate self x

When do you most need your own compassion? Could you write yourself a letter for those times?

Could I ask a favour? Could you rate this article using the stars below the related posts? I’d be really grateful, thanks! 

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