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As we are approaching this New Year, we are being asked to take some quiet time and do some inner reflection. Are we being kind to others despite feeling overwhelmed with all that is happening in the world? So many of us are so busy, our “to do” lists seem never ending… during this busy holiday season we are being asked to take time and be kind to one another, to pay it forward, but do we treat ourselves the way we treat others?
In the Northern hemisphere we are moving into the winter months, a time of dormancy, a time of quiet inner reflection. This can prove very challenging for those of us who are type A personalities or for those who were taught from a young age that “idle hands are the devil’s workshop”. Many of us were told that we must have something tangible to show for our time. We were only ever able to be “still” if we were sick. Because so many of us were raised with judgement and criticism, we have internalized those adult voices and they have become a predominant part of our own internal dialogue. So much so that we aren’t even consciously aware of how we speak to ourselves. We would NEVER speak to another the way we speak to ourselves. We berate ourselves and belittle ourselves. We are constantly judging our own behavior and letting ourselves know how “bad”/” terrible”/” wrong” we are. We become filled with shame and self-loathing. Now, of course we judge and criticize others too, but not anywhere near as harshly as we judge ourselves. When I was growing up my own inner guidance let me know that if I were to only learn one lesson in this lifetime it would be The Golden Rule. We all know The Golden Rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. In other words, treat people the way you wish to be treated. In my opinion, there is a part that is still missing and that is: “treat yourself the way you wish others would treat you”. Kindness begins INSIDE! It’s an inside job! This is where compassion and caring really take root. We can only find PEACE within, and if we are at war with ourselves, and treating ourselves unkindly, we will never find the peace that we are seeking. So, as the song goes, “Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me” is the mantra for 2019! This is my prayer for each of us and for the World this coming New Year! May we each find the inner peace that we have been seeking and may it then be reflected throughout the World. Many Blessings to ALL! May each of our Hearts open fully in unconditional LOVE! |