DTLA graffiti inspiration…Sometimes when we take time to pause and pay attention to our inner dialogue we may hear some things that we say to ourselves that aren’t too kind! Positive change is helped along by becoming aware of that nay-sayer and taking a good long look at it and askâ€is this really true?†All of us receive criticism growing up, whether it’s from family, friends or school. Unfortunately someone else’s destructive view can be projected on to us and we carry it around for awhile and it fades into the subconscious where it lives forever until we shine the light of awareness on it. It is taught that in order to have true, deep compassion for others, we must first have compassion for ourselves. In December I spent 5 days with Chris Germer & Kristin Neff (leaders in the field of research and western teaching of self-compassion) up at Easalen (amaaaazing place!). The practices were simple and yet oh-so-sweet and transformative. Counter to the idea that it might create being self-centred, it has the opposite effect. The practice of self compassion connects you to every other human on this planet. Whatever we feel, countless are also feeling…we are only alone in our challenges in life when we choose to view ourselves as separate from all that is. Be kind to yourself…everyone is doing the best they can do in any given moment when consciousness is brought into our field of awareness. Love yourself and the rest unfolds with ease…it feels sooooh much better when we can smile and laugh and be kind to ourselves and others…happiness is a choice ?