Quote:
Originally Posted by possum220
Thank you innocentjoy for sharing. Its so much easier to be kinder to others at times than we are with ourselves. I will try and be kinder to my other parts. To me.
Even in the last day or so my feeling have changed. Last night's dream was particularly focused on my differences. Also my sister asked me to make more food for Christmas and I was afraid. First time at her place in decades, normally they go some place else. So this year she is having heaps of people.
So I know I can go outside to breathe if I need to. Too bad if my voice changes or my neck kicks off again. I have a car if I need to leave.
I know my niece will be there. Life doesn't stop. But hope like you, I can have some compassion on myself instead of beating myself with a stick.
Maybe i can make oars of compassion in my boat of mental illness along the river of life. 
Then again, if I make mistakes along the way, there is always tomorrow. |
HUGS
It is always more difficult to have compassion for ourselves. Just remember you are breaking through a lot of barriers to be able to do these things right now. And that is okay.
I'm going to a group right now and the focus is accepting that mistakes will happen, that things won't be perfect. To actually expect that they will happen, not because I've done anything wrong, but because that is what always happens. So instead of dreading or worrying about times when I can't be as great at things, I can plan for it, and know that it doesn't mean I'm doing anything wrong, just that I'm learning to navigate life. it's like when you meditate you know that your mind will wander, so you just learn to gently guide it back. In life I know I will make mistakes or do/say things that are hard for me. So I am learning to gently guide myself back. I dont' need to tell myself I shouldn't have done something, and berate myself if I get to that point. I just know that I am not where I wish to be, and guide back towards it.
It sounds like you have a good idea of what you need for the holidays. Are you close with your niece? Can you offer to spend some time arranging trays in the ktichen so you don't have to spend all the time around people? Can you park in a place where you can easily drive out without having to ask other people to move? Can you go for a walk around the block with someone you're close to, to pace the get together? There's all sorts of things you can do to make it more manageable for you. And the more you set in place, the more you can feel proud that you are taking responsibility for caring for yourself. That in itself is compassion. It can be very empowering to finally take control over situations like that
