“If you want to do your best for future generations of humanity, for your friends and family, you must begin by taking good care of yourself.” — Tarthang Tulku Rinpocke
I admire very much people who are clear, connected, courageous, and open enough to be kind by default. One of my forever goals is to always act and think kindly. I feel I have a long way to go. It takes practice.
The person I have the most practice talking to, the person I have spent the most time with, the person with whom I have the longest-lasting most intimate relationship is, of course, myself.
So, if I want to be kinder to other people, I have to first be kinder to myself because I am the person I get most practice treating one way or another. I’m like my own crash test dummy, the practice round for how I will speak to, treat, and perceive others when I go out into the world. If I am most practiced at being mean, impatient, critical, and judgmental with myself, then despite my greatest intentions, that’s how I will be to others because those thoughts and actions have become my habituated default.
Why is it that we seem to think we can bypass ourselves when it comes to practicing things like patience, kindness, and compassion. Why do we think we are so exceptional? Oh, hi there, ego! I hear you. You may pipe down and step aside for a moment. Thanks.
My deepest, treat Self remembers her inherent value and knows that she deserves to be treated kindly, most of all by herself. We uncover that true Self to be reminded that we need to neither become or create someone other than exactly who we already are. The work comes in releasing and letting go of those things that conceal our true, unconditionally loving Self.
Krystal Barschig 