This month, I shared this poem with subscribers to my Joyful Little Note, my monthly newsletter.
If you’re having trouble being kind to yourself, here are some words of wisdom who make a case for why only kindness matters:
“Instead, ask yourself what you love. Without fear of consequences, without force or shame or guilt. what motivates you to be kind, to take care of your body, your spirit, others, the earth? Trust the longing, thrust the love that can be translated into action without the threat of punishment. Trust that you will not destroy what matters most. Give yourself that much.”—Geneen Roth, Women, Food and God
“When something hurts in life, we don’t usually think of it as our path or as the source of wisdom. In fact, we think that the reason we’re on the path is to get rid of this painful feeling. At that level of wanting to get rid of our feeling, we naively cultivate a subtle aggression against ourselves.
“However, the fact is that anyone who has used the moments and days and years of his or her life to become wiser, kinder, and more at home in the world has learned from what has happened right now. We can aspire to be kind right in the moment, to relax and open our heart and mind to what is in front of us right in the moment. Now is the time. If there’s any possibility for enlightenment, it’s right now, not at some future time. Now is the time.”—Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart
“Only you know how you want and need to be loved. Only you can love you the way you want and need to be loved. If you can’t or won’t give yourself what you need, how do you suppose someone else, who isn’t nearly so motivated, who, in fact, is looking to get it for themselves (possibly from you!) is going to provide it for you?”—Cheri Huber, There is Nothing Wrong With You
“You will learn a lot from yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery.
“Be a warrior for love.”—Cheryl Strayed, Brave Enough
