How many of us treat others with much more care and compassion than we do ourselves?
What is up with that?
Today I am thinking about how I might feel about myself if I spoke myself with the same kindness and curiosity I speak with others.
In fact, it just happened. I started straying off course, I was searching something about “my why” via the work of Simon Sinek and the next thing I knew, I was about ready to start watching another 15 minute video.
I had forgotten I committed to writing for 20 minutes: or rather, writing this blog post (which I wanted to also make into social media posts in Instagram and maybe twitter and on my facebook page and group.)
I actually said aloud, “Oh my gawsh, I got lost again.”
Because I had just read this prompt, I stopped myself and said, “What would you say to a loved one?”
Soft smile, “Julie, hey… let’s come back here to the prompt, remember?”
The Version of me that was off course would look up, sheepishly…. “He is just soooo good!” and then, “I can’t believe I got lost again.”
The compassionate soul-leader-me would respond, “You were just distracted momentarily. You know who and where you are and you know how delightful it is to find people who believe optimistically about humankind like you do… so let’s spread the word….”
And the two-versions-of-me merge again.
All is well.
All is better than well when I treat myself with the same tenderness and care as I treat others.
Prompt: What would happen if you treat yourself with the same tenderness and care as you treat others?
Julie JordanScott is a multi-creative who lives in Bakersfield with her daughter, Emma, in an eighty-year-old house with two palm trees in her yard. She loves writing and reading poetry, sitting by the Kern River and learning new quirky facts about literary grannies and what makes people tick. Her current project is finding ways to end the secret epidemic facing the US – with 60% of Americans affected by it. This love poetry project is another way she is working to eradicate loneliness – more information may be found on how you may be involved in the cause at EradicateLoneliness.com
We all drift off into crannies and nooks that elevate our spirits- but may occasionally set us behind in our to-do lists. The balance needs to be kept.
a moment to ponder your post…definitely some soul searching. I don’t ask for help very well, I won’t let others see when I’m hurting and not sure how I’d act if I treated myself the way I regard others.
Thanks, Julie, now it’s time for some serious soul searching! 🙂
Asking for things is so difficult. It requires a healthy dose of vulnerability and often times… being vulnerable is the LAST thing we (I!) want to confess to. I would love to hear how things shift after pondering a while. 🙂 Much love….
I’m not sure I like myself as well as I like other people. 😀
Ok, maybe I just hold myself to higher standards. Great what if…to ponder early in this week!
Your response brought tears to my eyes. There is so much to like, admire, and treasure about you, Carrie. You are fearfully and wonderfully made – remember?
I look forward to hearing what comes up after you ponder this one deeply for a bit. Allow your heart to open to the possibilities. I know there is a gift in there for you.
I’ve been asking myself that question lately. It’s a good thing.
I seem to have a good balance of how I treat myself and others. But the one thing I can’t do easily is ask for help, I’ll give as much as I have to anyone though.