“Self-compassion means caring for yourself in the same way you would care for someone you love” (Marotta 2013, 141). Inquiry: Ask yourself: “Do I feel lonely and stay guarded in self-protection mode or do I choose to take care of myself with messages and acts of self-compassion? Practice: Cultivate Self-Compassion….
“Equanimity is the spaciousness of a still and balanced mind, a mind that can weather life’s ups and downs. With the balance of equanimity, you can “be with” what is, without trying to change it to fit your needs and expectations.” (Marotta 2013, 134). Inquiry: Ask yourself: Do I want…
“Openness is a wide, receptive, accepting state, a state that can contain all things. It’s free from self-effort and agendas and allows all emotions to be present, making room for options to emerge and compassion to arise.” (Marotta 2013, 123). Inquiry: Ask yourself: When I feel states of distress, do…
The previous parts of this series explored the relationship between mindful self-esteem and self-care through the foundational practices of mindfulness of the breath (Part I), mindfulness of the body (Part II), and mindfulness of thoughts (Part III). Part IV of this series focuses on mindfulness of emotions practices that cultivate…
“Trust as self-reliance means trusting yourself and your feelings rather than looking outside yourself for what’s true. It means honoring and taking full personal responsibility for your feelings and intuitions and having the willingness to make mistakes along the way. It means believing in your inner wisdom. When you operate…
“Patience is the understanding that some situations unfold in their own time, outside of your control. When you accept each moment in its fullness, you let go of your defensive shield. You can meet yourself in your completeness and open to life’s unfolding nature. In this way, you come to…
“Acceptance is a state of open receptivity, a willingness to invite in even the most unwelcome guests, and an ability to turn toward that which you resist. The more you embrace suffering and come to know it, the less you’re compulsively driven by avoiding it. You experience a certain “lightness…
“Letting be is defined as accepting things as they are, without grasping onto them or, alternatively, pushing them away. Letting be means letting go of your attachment, not wanting more or less—allowing events to run their course. Your habit of holding on to certain thoughts and ideas may be so…
“Nonstriving is defined as not trying to get anywhere except into the present moment. Nonstriving means replacing the myth that life is happening somewhere else with the belief that what’s happening now is what really matters. Nonstriving places attention on being, not doing; on seeing, not seeking. It’s process oriented,…
“Mindfulness cultivates beginner’s mind: looking at things as if for the first time, without assumptions. When you employ beginner’s mind, you meet life with an attitude of curiosity; every moment is a new beginning. This gets you out of the judgmental “good versus bad—this versus that” thinking that automatically puts…
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