Being hyper-critical of ourselves is something that most of us are intimately familiar with.
I know that for me, I have been very good at being my worst critic, speaking to myself far worse than anyone else ever has.
Today, my aim is to speak gently to myself, and with love. It's not easy and things like this, like sharing my journey with others, remind me of the importance of this practice. After all, I cannot help others with their oxygen masks if I fail to put mine on, first.
I have better days. I have worse days. Some things are more difficult to be gentle with myself about, such as my weight and the emotional trauma my children experienced when they were young.
So, talking about it. Writing about it. Thinking of how I'd speak to my children if they were in the same or a similar situation, or how I'd speak to a friend or fellow recovering person, all of these things help
If I can mentally exchange myself for them, if that makes sense, I can be more gentle.
It has also helped to have a photo of myself as a tiny person. She was so beautiful and she deserved to be loved and cherished. I'm still that little girl. I'm still that soul. Why then, am I not worthy of the same?
These are things that are helping me. I've got more research to do and assignments from my therapist, and also from a dear friend, to complete. I'm a work in progress and that's a beautiful thing.