Embracing Patience: A Journey of Self-Compassion
Reflecting on the Power of Kindness Towards Ourselves in Times of Change
Hello everyone! Sofia here, I hope this message finds you well!
In my last newsletter, I shared some of the changes and steps I was taking to live a life that was more aligned with who I am and the path I want to follow. As I navigated these new steps, I noticed something interesting: while these changes were necessary and positive, they have been consuming a lot of my energy. It felt like my body was stuck in survival mode, hesitant to fully experience this new direction because it remembered the pain and exhaustion from past experiences of burnout.
This was a curious realization for me. Mentally, I am eager to move forward and embrace the new, but my body seems to be holding back, still protecting itself from the possibility of getting hurt again. This made me rethink what it truly means to be patient with myself. On the surface, it might have seemed strange, why would I need to be patient with myself, as if I wasn’t fully in control? But when I dug deeper, I realized this was exactly what I needed: to be kinder to myself, to allow myself the space and time to heal and grow without rushing.
One of my biggest realizations this year was recognizing how much pressure I used to put on myself, without even noticing it. I had been setting high expectations and pushing myself to meet them as if there was an invisible force demanding perfection. But when I looked around, I saw that no one else was imposing these demands on me, it was all coming from within. This led me to ask myself: Where did this pressure originate? Why was I so hard on myself?
In hindsight, it’s clear that I had little awareness of this behavior before. My upbringing and societal influences likely played a significant role in shaping these patterns. It may sound cliché, but the more I reflect, the more I understand the importance of being kind to ourselves. Patience, I’ve learned, is just another form of kindness.
So, when I say I needed to be more patient with myself, what I really meant was that I needed to embrace a deeper kindness toward myself. This awareness, this realization that self-compassion is not just a nice idea but a necessity, was perhaps the most important lesson I learned this year.
I encourage you all to reflect on this with me: Were there areas in your life where you were pushing yourself too hard? Can you find ways to be more patient and kind with yourself as you navigate your own journey?
Thank you for being on this journey with me. Let’s continue to grow, heal, and support each other in finding that balance between striving for our best and being gentle with ourselves along the way.
Also, thank you for taking the time to read and, hopefully, to contribute your thoughts. I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions!
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