who you are is not a problem

Two weeks ago, my friend lent me her copy of You Were Born For This: Astrology for radical self-acceptance.  The author, Chani Nicholas, says, "Astrology is a relentless reminder that we are the way we are on purpose."  This statement took me back about 6 years to an Ayurveda workshop in which the teacher mentioned that everyone has a different makeup, a different constitution, and "it's not a problem."  

Who you are is not a problem that needs to be fixed.  Yes, we all have things we are working on.  If we are paying attention and engaging with life, we are growing.  If we are listening, we are learning and evolving.  Your eccentricities, assymetries, and idiosyncrasies are not things that need to be solved, changed or eradicated.  You are you.  Embrace you.  And do the work to be the most loving you.  Eat real food.  Move your body.  Connect with source.  Engage with others.  Be of service.  Listen.  Learn.  And most of all, have compassion, both for yourself and for others.

You cannot love if you don't love yourself.  You cannot love yourself if you don't accept yourself.  You cannot accept yourself if you think that who you are is a problem.  And if you think you are a problem, try a little self-compassion.  Restate negative self-talk with kindness and appreciation, the way you would speak to a child or friend who is struggling.  Acknowledge that you are human and that struggling, mistakes and suffering are part of that experience.  You're doing ok.  And even if you're not doing ok, you can be ok with not being ok.  You can have compassion for yourself in your not-okay moments.

Looking for more self-compassion tools and techniques?  That's what this whole weekend retreat is about.  Hope you can join us!    

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