A feeling of warmth and caring for a person who has been neglected and taken for granted. I felt more at ease with myself and feel equipped to handle what the day may bring in.
Thank you Tara. The first thing I do in the morning is to watch one of your videos and then I practice one of your guided meditations. I´ve been doing this from the begining of the pandemic and I found this practice very helpful. I feel more at easy and I live with more joy and acceptance. I also love the poems and stories you tell. I´ve adopted the gesture of kindness practice in my life. It´s very soothing. But what really helps me to put everything in perspective is to think that everything is a wave in the ocean. I use that image everyday in so many situations. Thank you again for your generosity. Namaste.
Christina Rousseau Rousseau, Psychotherapy, GBsays
A softness came over my body, a relief and letting go of tightness .
These ideas are wonderful for helping new clients to embrace mindful being . The idea of being the ocean and the waves like the breath is a metaphor I will use with children I see in my practice .
I am reading Radical Acceptance at the moment and these videos really reinforce what I am learning there to.
Thank you so much for your love and compassion in sharing your understandings so generously.
Love Philippa
kathleen short, Another Field, dorchester, MA, USAsays
I did the compassion prayer to myself! may i be filled with compassion may my pain and sorrow be eased and may I be at peace! I felt it! I am a maasage therapist and I close every massage with this prayer! Thanks Tara
I feel as I am making myself calm and without Judgment
as I embrace myself and said : Everything will be fine
Don’t think in what you have listened to yourself that hurts you
I felt much better !
At the time of this video, I was reflecting on the impact of our culture on racism, climate warming, and the pandemic. I was feeling sad, depressed and powerless.
After practicing the meditation, I felt hope. Acknowledging our humanity with compassion is a hidden source of power for change. Thank you.
A feeling of tenderness towards myself. I am a retired massage therapist. I found all three suggestions today to be very meaningful. I would have used them with clients. I think that often the hardest part is to develop and maintain a regular practice of the self-compassion actions.
I observe every part of my mind and body that I do not feel good about and develop an inward attitude of loving kindness towards them, aware that each and every part is as it should be. Daily observations and reminders in this way are helpful
I put my hand lightly on my heart and sent the message that I love you, I care about you and I will take care of you. I noticed my breathing slowed and became fuller and my shoulders relaxed. All that happened in much less than one minute. Beautiful!
Hi I am a clinical psychologist in Sydney Australia and want to say a big thank you for this brilliant teaching. I am going to share it with many patients who have not found the right mindfulness exercise to aid their healing. I use EMDR when those core entrenched beliefs are difficult to shift and with your tools it helps patients to feel safer to process old dysfunctionally stored memories holding those old beliefs
Thank you once again for sharing your wisdom and giving this gift to people everywhere especially at this unprecedented time that has turned peoples lives upside down
Zara Yellin …zar72@hotmail.com
From my heart, thank you for these teachings. Because of money, I cannot sign up for the program but I received so much from the free sessions. I so appreciate your generosity.
It felt good! It reminded me of my loving partner and friends, who always tell me to take it in. I’m used to life long feelings of guilt – but meditation and these three steps during meditation or when I’m aware of my self-judgements will be helpful!
FYI, I’m a 74 year old white progressive activist in my mid-Hudson Valley county and people look to me for leardership. At this stage of I want to elevate others to leadership (the majority of my coalition partners are POC and woman and/or members of the LGBTQ community). I always find fault with my own “work” in being the kind of leader I want to be, in terms of pushing the group to clarify our short and long term goals and developing specific strategies that align with those goals. I don’t want to be perceived as domineering but I also want “lean in” when what I can contribute can be of use to everyone. My coalition partners are younger, strong personalities who are great but can be somewhat stubborn and mistrusting of each other and we’re doing high stakes housing justice work in a community with lots of COVID gentrification pressures and an underlying poor black, white and immigrant majority of renters.) The whole situation is fraught and difficult. I’m working with other skilled organizers who are self-critical as well…so just relating to all of them about these tendencies can be helpful.
I’ll let you know if this approach to tuning out self-judgement will help make a difference to my own piece of mind and to the piece of mind of our coalition members.
Helen Gennari, Counseling, St. Louis,, MO, USAsays
Because I’ve been working on self-acceptance for a while, Doing this exercise felt warm and welcoming, like another hug for the self that I have come to love and appreciate. It’s a good idea to now and then “refresh” that sense of feeling appreciated by the one by whom I was once harshly judged.
‘
In COVID I became aware of how much suffering I am holding of others, and acknowledging this helps to release it, to acknowledge how much many or all are suffering, myself included, in this time of disconnection from our “normal” interactions with others
Today with this hand on my heart gesture of kindness practice, I noticed that my old thoughts and feelings of unworthiness came up, that though I could appreciate intellectually and emotionally that I was loved and cherished, I realized that still, so much of my life is about proving to myself through others, that I am worthy and deserving of love. In the past, I’ve chosen not to be so open with this secret of mine, to myself, feeling that a trained therapist with decades of experience and success is beyond such a basic state of dysfunction. Yet here I am, and because Tara is so compassionate and wise, I am feeling a sense of “okayness,” about my sharing this secret to myself and now to the world. “Oh My!’
Sadness – realizing how little of this caring I have been feeling, and hope – that I can remember to use this in painful moments when I really need it. ?
Pauline Giannaras, Another Field, Guysville, OH, USAsays
I found it difficult (at this moment in time) to “find words” to speak to me with care/love. It may be because before I sat down to this I had an interaction with my husband where I had to stand my ground (again) and therefore still feeling the “aftermath” of that…defensive, trying to hold on to my power, guilt, fighting feeling bad for sticking to what I need…WOW. Now that I wrote this, I see that I could have just said to myself “That’s OK. You’re OK” Simpler words of comfort was all I needed for something as powerful as the aftermath of speaking my voice.
I guess feelings of resistance came up for me… it felt disingenuous to offer myself the gesture of kindness, but I was heartened by Elaine’s story… how she experienced it similarly, but continued with the practice until it felt sincere… thanks for the video, Tara!
Gesture of kindness releases the resistance to self judgment, and feels more spacious. A letting down of the fight, flight energy. I would love to share this practice with my clients and offer that they can begin again as many times as they need. Releasing the old familiar pattern of self-deprecation and resulting contraction.
This part was really helpful because it is where everyone gets stuck and thanks to Tara, she gave all the hints to understand where we get stuck and fall into the old traps of our habits of self judgments. Feeling greatful for this video.
Nicki Castoro, Another Field, Montgomery , AL, USAsays
I’m fascinated with the brain connection and how we need to rewire. It reminds me of the book by ken Keyes that I read 20 years ago and always keep a copy.
Just telling myself that it’s okay that I haven’t achieved more of what my ego-mind perceives as “success” with career and finances. Telling myself that the past is gone and “how PROUD I am of you for this great recovery and healing work you are doing right now-preparing yourself to be at your highest level of creativity and contribution, preparing yourself to start living your dharma.” After DECADES of self-loathing and addiction, I truly am beginning to be my own best advocate, and an authentic “YOU GO GIRL! Keep up the good work!” Is slowly but SURELY replacing that relentless, HIGHLY critical, judgmental, destructive voice. Your meditations and resources have been a HUGE part of my journey, Tara! I am DEEPLY grateful!! And THANK YOU for offering this for free! It is GOLD for the SOUL!!!
A nice way to self-acceptance
Reminder when we ask clients to try something to try ourselves so we have a felt sense of the experience (and to do our own work ?)
A feeling of warmth and caring for a person who has been neglected and taken for granted. I felt more at ease with myself and feel equipped to handle what the day may bring in.
Peace….but also some poignant sadness, a sense of vulnerability
Thank you Tara. The first thing I do in the morning is to watch one of your videos and then I practice one of your guided meditations. I´ve been doing this from the begining of the pandemic and I found this practice very helpful. I feel more at easy and I live with more joy and acceptance. I also love the poems and stories you tell. I´ve adopted the gesture of kindness practice in my life. It´s very soothing. But what really helps me to put everything in perspective is to think that everything is a wave in the ocean. I use that image everyday in so many situations. Thank you again for your generosity. Namaste.
A softness came over my body, a relief and letting go of tightness .
These ideas are wonderful for helping new clients to embrace mindful being . The idea of being the ocean and the waves like the breath is a metaphor I will use with children I see in my practice .
I am reading Radical Acceptance at the moment and these videos really reinforce what I am learning there to.
Thank you so much for your love and compassion in sharing your understandings so generously.
Love Philippa
Thank you ,helpful
I felt the gesture of kindness made me relax and breathe deeply. Gave me a sense of peach and self-forgiveness.
relief and gentleness … thank you
I did the compassion prayer to myself! may i be filled with compassion may my pain and sorrow be eased and may I be at peace! I felt it! I am a maasage therapist and I close every massage with this prayer! Thanks Tara
I feel as I am making myself calm and without Judgment
as I embrace myself and said : Everything will be fine
Don’t think in what you have listened to yourself that hurts you
I felt much better !
This is a lovely way to approach self-acceptance. So helpful. Thank you!
At the time of this video, I was reflecting on the impact of our culture on racism, climate warming, and the pandemic. I was feeling sad, depressed and powerless.
After practicing the meditation, I felt hope. Acknowledging our humanity with compassion is a hidden source of power for change. Thank you.
I have retired, not in practice now. However I know that this workshop will be helpful for me now in my senior years. Namaste
A sense of acceptance and stillness. Very helpful practice to come back to when I feel myself slipping
A feeling of tenderness towards myself. I am a retired massage therapist. I found all three suggestions today to be very meaningful. I would have used them with clients. I think that often the hardest part is to develop and maintain a regular practice of the self-compassion actions.
Feeling at peace with myself and I am enough
So helpful Tara. Thank you. Will listen to again.
I observe every part of my mind and body that I do not feel good about and develop an inward attitude of loving kindness towards them, aware that each and every part is as it should be. Daily observations and reminders in this way are helpful
Thank you Tara Such BeautiFul,HeartFul Messages I needed to get my thoughts calmer and see it as a positive view. Amen
I felt like crying
I put my hand lightly on my heart and sent the message that I love you, I care about you and I will take care of you. I noticed my breathing slowed and became fuller and my shoulders relaxed. All that happened in much less than one minute. Beautiful!
Hi I am a clinical psychologist in Sydney Australia and want to say a big thank you for this brilliant teaching. I am going to share it with many patients who have not found the right mindfulness exercise to aid their healing. I use EMDR when those core entrenched beliefs are difficult to shift and with your tools it helps patients to feel safer to process old dysfunctionally stored memories holding those old beliefs
Thank you once again for sharing your wisdom and giving this gift to people everywhere especially at this unprecedented time that has turned peoples lives upside down
Zara Yellin …zar72@hotmail.com
From my heart, thank you for these teachings. Because of money, I cannot sign up for the program but I received so much from the free sessions. I so appreciate your generosity.
Love these videos
Thankyou
It felt good! It reminded me of my loving partner and friends, who always tell me to take it in. I’m used to life long feelings of guilt – but meditation and these three steps during meditation or when I’m aware of my self-judgements will be helpful!
FYI, I’m a 74 year old white progressive activist in my mid-Hudson Valley county and people look to me for leardership. At this stage of I want to elevate others to leadership (the majority of my coalition partners are POC and woman and/or members of the LGBTQ community). I always find fault with my own “work” in being the kind of leader I want to be, in terms of pushing the group to clarify our short and long term goals and developing specific strategies that align with those goals. I don’t want to be perceived as domineering but I also want “lean in” when what I can contribute can be of use to everyone. My coalition partners are younger, strong personalities who are great but can be somewhat stubborn and mistrusting of each other and we’re doing high stakes housing justice work in a community with lots of COVID gentrification pressures and an underlying poor black, white and immigrant majority of renters.) The whole situation is fraught and difficult. I’m working with other skilled organizers who are self-critical as well…so just relating to all of them about these tendencies can be helpful.
I’ll let you know if this approach to tuning out self-judgement will help make a difference to my own piece of mind and to the piece of mind of our coalition members.
I felt comforted and peaceful.
A softening, ever so slight, then the sense of flow, like a soft melody in my body.
Because I’ve been working on self-acceptance for a while, Doing this exercise felt warm and welcoming, like another hug for the self that I have come to love and appreciate. It’s a good idea to now and then “refresh” that sense of feeling appreciated by the one by whom I was once harshly judged.
‘
It was uncomfortable to feel self care. It made me think how I “should” take better care of myself.
It felt serene to put my hand on my heart and it helped me to find an intuitive phrase quickly that I realized was very helpful for me to think about.
Thanks Tara
I noticed a feeling of warmth and love and that things are ok
T
Thank you so very much! This is very helpful. Just hearing your voice is soothing.
Tentative acceptance of guilt and shame.
In COVID I became aware of how much suffering I am holding of others, and acknowledging this helps to release it, to acknowledge how much many or all are suffering, myself included, in this time of disconnection from our “normal” interactions with others
Today with this hand on my heart gesture of kindness practice, I noticed that my old thoughts and feelings of unworthiness came up, that though I could appreciate intellectually and emotionally that I was loved and cherished, I realized that still, so much of my life is about proving to myself through others, that I am worthy and deserving of love. In the past, I’ve chosen not to be so open with this secret of mine, to myself, feeling that a trained therapist with decades of experience and success is beyond such a basic state of dysfunction. Yet here I am, and because Tara is so compassionate and wise, I am feeling a sense of “okayness,” about my sharing this secret to myself and now to the world. “Oh My!’
Alan, thank you for sharing this. You are more than “okay”.
tears came…i’m not sure i can accept the kindness, even from myself
Sadness and grief and how little kindness I express toward myself. Sadness and not experiencing this enough to feel good, safe, loved, OK.
Sadness – realizing how little of this caring I have been feeling, and hope – that I can remember to use this in painful moments when I really need it. ?
A deep sense of peace, relaxation.
Neck tension softening, smoother breath
I found it difficult (at this moment in time) to “find words” to speak to me with care/love. It may be because before I sat down to this I had an interaction with my husband where I had to stand my ground (again) and therefore still feeling the “aftermath” of that…defensive, trying to hold on to my power, guilt, fighting feeling bad for sticking to what I need…WOW. Now that I wrote this, I see that I could have just said to myself “That’s OK. You’re OK” Simpler words of comfort was all I needed for something as powerful as the aftermath of speaking my voice.
I guess feelings of resistance came up for me… it felt disingenuous to offer myself the gesture of kindness, but I was heartened by Elaine’s story… how she experienced it similarly, but continued with the practice until it felt sincere… thanks for the video, Tara!
Gesture of kindness releases the resistance to self judgment, and feels more spacious. A letting down of the fight, flight energy. I would love to share this practice with my clients and offer that they can begin again as many times as they need. Releasing the old familiar pattern of self-deprecation and resulting contraction.
This part was really helpful because it is where everyone gets stuck and thanks to Tara, she gave all the hints to understand where we get stuck and fall into the old traps of our habits of self judgments. Feeling greatful for this video.
I’m fascinated with the brain connection and how we need to rewire. It reminds me of the book by ken Keyes that I read 20 years ago and always keep a copy.
hope that i can also be kinder to myself and heal.
I felt like a child talking to its loving mother.I asked myself to take care of me and to hold onto me so I don’t fall.
Just telling myself that it’s okay that I haven’t achieved more of what my ego-mind perceives as “success” with career and finances. Telling myself that the past is gone and “how PROUD I am of you for this great recovery and healing work you are doing right now-preparing yourself to be at your highest level of creativity and contribution, preparing yourself to start living your dharma.” After DECADES of self-loathing and addiction, I truly am beginning to be my own best advocate, and an authentic “YOU GO GIRL! Keep up the good work!” Is slowly but SURELY replacing that relentless, HIGHLY critical, judgmental, destructive voice. Your meditations and resources have been a HUGE part of my journey, Tara! I am DEEPLY grateful!! And THANK YOU for offering this for free! It is GOLD for the SOUL!!!