Excessively Gentle

As I scrolled through my phone notes, I noticed a quote I had saved:

Be excessively gentle with yourself.

Immediately, I took a breath and calm washed over me. I paused and realized how hard I was being on myself that morning.

I welcomed each expectation of project outlines, tasks, needs, plans, meetings and began organizing each into time blocks of work.

All in my head.

To top it off, it was a Saturday!

A stop sign popped up in my mind and I began to redirect the onslaught of expectations.

I chose to take the path of gentleness.

Then a self-compassion practice came to mind.

The practice begins with envisioning a friend expressing their concerns, expectations and struggles to me and taking note of how I would respond to this friend.

I would be gentle, kind and loving, surely not cracking the whip on them with “you should” or “why don’t you” messages.

Most of all, I would listen.

Automatically.

So why is it so hard to do that for me? Is it possible to practice this enough to make gentleness an automatic response for myself?

I think it comes with the excessively part of the equation.

I will be excessively gentle and over time the automatic response will be a gentle spirit welcoming my day.

I believe this is one area where I have permission to be excessive! That is refreshing and makes me laugh.

I brought my hand on my heart and reassured myself I was heard.

I decided to “shred” my “should” and say: “I want to”, “I get to” or I am happy to….

My mindset for my day completely shifted.

Gentleness made the difference.

Resources to Thrive:

Empowering Coaching SessionOne time session to a path of self-compassion and mindfulness

Gratitude and Savoring Support: Savor the Day Journal Benefits: Happiness and Life satisfaction

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Philippians 4:5