“Having compassion starts and ends with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy” Pema Chodron
There’s no way around it, stepping out in leadership and taking care of ourselves involves deep inner work. And there’s no doubt that when we develop practices to connect to ourselves, all parts of ourselves, we are going to come up against parts we don’t like.
This connecting in, connecting deeply, tells us if we are living our intentions, if we are taking responsibility for our choices, and ultimately if we are being authentic. Connecting in, is a practice, a practice that is usually easier to learn when all is going well.
Self Connection & Compassion Practice
So here’s a practice that works for me, I often do this in the morning, at the end of the day, and frequently when I am feeling ‘triggered’ or constricted.
- Just Remember to check in – find a time of day or some way to remind myself to check in with me
- Tune in to my breath – this is the easiest way to begin to notice what’s inside
- Just notice what I am experiencing, sensing, thinking, feeling or wanting
- Be with, embrace, whatever is there
- See if I can experience gratitude for this experience, this part of me
I find the more I practice, the easier it is to connect in deeply, and to honour all parts of me, even when the going gets tough. Over time, this practice has opened the door to self inquiry, to discernment of what I take in, and to getting clear about what is really important to me.
Linda McCann – June 10, 2014
About the Photo – Vic, Iceland by Linda McCann