Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the holiday season can sometimes magnify everything happening in our lives, and we tend to feel things a little more intensely.

Happiness, excitement, busyness, sadness, and overwhelm – we’re sure to dip in and out of a few of these.

If we are struggling with family relations, health (ours or someone we love), finances, and life in general, the added layer of expectations and pressure that come this time of year can be heavy-hitting.

So, this holiday season season, I'm wondering...

Can we give ourselves the gift of kindness and compassion?

For me, self-compassion means being kind to myself. It means supporting myself like I would a dear friend.

It has been a game-changer for me. There is an inner knowing that “I’ve got this.”

What if, we treated ourselves like we would a dear friend?

What if, we put yourselves first? (Does this feel ok or selfish?)

In our society, we have received the message that when the going gets tough, we must forge ahead, be strong, suck it up, and move on.

Self-compassion is often misunderstood as a pity party, soft and fluffy, a weakness. It may seem self-centered or arrogant.

These beliefs come from our childhood conditioning and society, and they are the furthest thing from the truth

When self-compassion becomes our first response, we transform ourselves, our families, and the people around us.

Today,
I love myself more, not less.
I listen to what I need.
I talk to myself more lovingly.
I leaned into my feelings.

And having said all of this - it is a practice.

When I’m not doing any of these things, that’s ok too.

Allowing myself to be where I am is self-compassion.

Knowing that at any given moment I am doing the best I can is self-compassion.

Life has taught me time and time again, I can’t control...

- What kind of feelings arise in my body
- What people do or don’t do
- How things work out or don't work out
- What is going on in the world

I can, however, stay committed to showing myself kindness and compassion, no matter what.

This is a result of having a sincere desire to deepen my connection to my true essence and love myself more not less. So, I practice each day, and every 'seed I plant' continues to grow.

So, how can we practice being kinder and more compassionate?

Go easy. It’s a moment-to-moment practice.

What if we…

Take the time to stop and listen inward. It is in the silence that we hear the truth and wisdom that lies within us.

Set an intention just for today…

"I will talk to myself the same way I talk to the people I love."

Try it. Notice how it feels. Is there resistance? Is it easy or difficult? Let go of judgment. Simply be curious.

Be on the Lookout for 'Shoulds'
Anytime you are thinking "I should do this" or "I shouldn't do that" please know this is your Inner Critic. These beliefs were developed at a young age.

Just because we have believed something, our whole life doesn’t mean it’s true.

We can choose to think differently.

We can choose to be with ourselves differently.

How about asking yourself, “What do I need?” rather than “What should I do?” And then listen.

Take Time to Pause
Pause and take a breath as you go about your day. Our breath has a healing presence. This is an act of loving-kindness. (This is a big part of my practice!)

When we offer kindness and compassion to ourselves, we develop a more compassionate lens through which we see all humanity. We begin to feel and experience our connectedness.

Diane, wherever you find yourself this holiday season, I meet you there with compassion.

With loving-kindness,

Diane