This whole concept of self-compassion has been one that I have intentionally been speaking about and sharing about, especially this year. While I have steadily encouraged kindness and grace to and with self, I also believe that this concept of self-compassion is so vital, and it actually ties everything together quite nicely.
Every moment of everyday we get to choose whether we’re going to lean into self-compassion, kindness and grace or not. We get to choose if we’re going to think positively about ourselves or negatively. We get to choose whether we’ll beat ourselves up or whether we’ll grant ourselves some softness and tenderness. We get to choose whether we’re going to believe the negative things someone says about us or if we’re going to remember & speak truth to ourselves instead.
Everyday, we’re presented with this choice, multiple times a day. None of us is perfect, and it’s for this exact reason that choosing self-compassion is so important. It bears so much fruit and can truly add so richly to your life and to your relationships. Holding yourself accountable while being self-compassionate can and need to go together. You can hold compassion for self and still hold yourself accountable for the way in which you treat others. You can hold compassion for self and still hold yourself accountable for the things you say and do, or don’t say and don’t do. You can hold compassion for self and still take responsibility for your stuff - the two can co-exist.
I hope that today you’ll be truly encouraged to lean more into self-compassion, kindness and grace to and with yourself. Don’t just hold yourself accountable without the presence of these components - with them present, it feels less like judgement and more like a loving calling out, and that matters. Both matter, and both deserve a seat at the table.