For me it was a feeling of fear of failure so my kind gesture to my inner child was reassurance that I am a good person who is kind and caring to others.
I found myself listening to the reflection of myself: I will take care of you. I am all that you have and you are all that I have and together will be all right. Together we are enough. Together we are whole.
I was told as a child that Gods love surrounded me with angels to keep me safe. As I reached into my heart to show kindness to myself, I felt like the wings of angels encircled me to protect me and it was encouraging. My heart is feeling more peaceful. Having cleansing tears
It felt less harsh much kinder and loving. It felt like I was going walking to the inner child rather than the outer shell. Thank you for these practices.
I notice other parts of myself that are critical of that self care. Challenging to continue with the message. I am working on making more space around all those voices so they can each feel that care and compassion.
Watched and listened to you on youtube for at least three years, and you have taught me so much. I thank you. However, when I “forgive” myself for reacting to an alcoholic daughter, I seem to excuse my behaviour, and it doesn’t change. I just go on criticising and judging. I seem to HAVE to blame myself, in order to attempt to change my behaviour.
I feel calm, ‘felt’, deep connected with myself. I’m safe
Thank you Tara! I use to guide my.clients into this practice. It’ powerful indeed!
Karina Bercovich, clinical psychologist, Buenos Aires, Argentina
I’m using this knowledge to better communicate with my wife of 23 years. I want to be able to address her emotional needs and create more intimacy, but I also need to guard against my own crap from a dysfunctional father-son relationship. I do not want to repeat my dad’s mistakes. My wife is worth it. I want to be more whole for myself so that I can be my best for my wife.
A client called for help communicating in a triggering situarion. I was almost done watching this video. Somehow the kindness transferred to her, and she understood how to “take care of herself” without triggering another. She deeply understood, as we had a connection clearer and deeper, even over the phone, than we’d ever had before. Thank you for sending out these ripples of compassion
It’s such a simple gesture, but when I put my hand on my heart something in me eases. I can then see the harshness in how I normally treat myself from a place of care & not a place where I just heap on more judgement of the judgement.
Reluctance and then calm
I can see starting a session off with this gesture of Kindness since it brings you in touch quickly with your self and was calming.
I found this very interesting and useful for myself and my clients. I am doing this quite late at night and I was feeling very tired and wondering if despite my interest, I could stay awake till the end. After doing the gesture of kindness I now feel wide awake, alert and keen to get on to the next section. Thank you.
Hand on heart, I told myself “I love you. I’m sorry for your suffering and fears.” I felt tears spring up in my eyes. I knew an inner part of me felt accepted and not a failure for living with fears a lot of the time. I have felt so inferior because of these recurrent fears and have hardly told anyone about them. I have judged myself and now that’s turning into acceptance.
I felt compassion toward the part of me that I usually judge harshly. I recognized how she allowed me to survive during a very challenging time in my life, and without her, I wouldn’t be alive today.
Oh gosh–THANK YOU!!! As a therapist, I knew all the things to say to my clients to help with the life-long “scripts” in their heads, that held them back from experiencing true self. Sadly, I have always found it difficult to practice what I preached!
I fully understand and support the concepts in this video, and most recently (in some pretty dark moments), I have begun practicing them! Watching this video only reinforces 1) What I know to be true, and 2) what I now need to do for myself on a regular basis….
Hello Tara,
Yes, I think that you are making a very good contribution by encapsulating these teachings in a way suitable to introduce almost any client that is ready. Right now I am working with a Spanish speaking clientele. I have been a meditator as well and in a spiritual path under the non-dualistic orientation. I am not sure if this is the question but that is what I understood. Personally I will say that it is very effective as you guide the process and I found it very useful to be assisted and supported in this simple but profound way.
With the hand on heart gesture I experienced a sense of peace and acceptance. My inner voice assured me everything was ok and to be gentle on myself.
With gratitude Kathy
A sense of gratitude for showing me the path, and gratitude for myself for seeking it and gathering the knowledge to offer a gesture of kindness to myself.
as i placed my hand over my heart, i felt connection, warmth of my hand, tenderness of touch, access to my inner self. as i expressed words of comfort towards myself, i began to feel an opening in myself and a willingness to hear what was said, an acceptance of the kind words used,
and an allowing of the words to be words.
I hear others’ unkindness toward me afterwards. I feel like loving myself does not counteract others not behaving in a loving way. I have worked with many LPNs and elders and their families and I recently learned that people with dementia react to your face and body signals as much as to your words. I have a long history of fibromyalgia pain and fatigue; I think that other people “read” that in my body, face and voice and that this in particular has been a source of difficulty in connection, in both my professional and personal life. But, I will try to continue with this exercise because I did feel a mild relaxation of my muscles.
Thank you Tara! This has been extremely beneficial and will repeat, repeat, repeat.
I felt an energetic expansion in my heart and the pressure in the top of my head lifted.
Lightness returned & I felt harmonious.
Tara, you are such a great teacher! I hope we can translate it to Spanish so everyone in Argentina could follow you. Every time I do your meditations or listen to your talks, I feel happier.
Cheryl Duffy, Coach, AU says
For me it was a feeling of fear of failure so my kind gesture to my inner child was reassurance that I am a good person who is kind and caring to others.
Bob Delastrada, Another Field, Olympia, WA, USA says
I automatically took a deep breath with a corresponding release of tension!
Nellie D, Nursing, CA says
I found myself listening to the reflection of myself: I will take care of you. I am all that you have and you are all that I have and together will be all right. Together we are enough. Together we are whole.
Sherry Lynn, Another Field, Austin, TX, USA says
I was told as a child that Gods love surrounded me with angels to keep me safe. As I reached into my heart to show kindness to myself, I felt like the wings of angels encircled me to protect me and it was encouraging. My heart is feeling more peaceful. Having cleansing tears
Helen Lee, Psychotherapy, GB says
Real warmth, thank you so much for this it reminds me of the mindful self compassion practice I have found so useful over the years. Thank you, Helen
Claire, GB says
This is such a helpful perspective. Thank-you.
Anonymous says
Tara is one of the most compassionate & insightful teachers??So grateful to learn from her wisdom & brilliant words.
Kieran Stubbs says
relief came up
Jo CW says
Numbness – I realise I find it hard to let in self-compassion
Cathy Yoga says
It felt less harsh much kinder and loving. It felt like I was going walking to the inner child rather than the outer shell. Thank you for these practices.
wendy wrenn says
I notice other parts of myself that are critical of that self care. Challenging to continue with the message. I am working on making more space around all those voices so they can each feel that care and compassion.
Maricruz Argueta says
I felt relief when I did the exercise and a capacity to be kind with myself.
Thank you so much Tara!
Anonymous says
Watched and listened to you on youtube for at least three years, and you have taught me so much. I thank you. However, when I “forgive” myself for reacting to an alcoholic daughter, I seem to excuse my behaviour, and it doesn’t change. I just go on criticising and judging. I seem to HAVE to blame myself, in order to attempt to change my behaviour.
julia glass says
There was a relief, swiftly followed by a doubt. I’m not sure I believe the kind gesture…
Elaine Millin says
Thank you – the gesture of care helped me to relax and feel a gentleness within.
Karina Bercovich says
I feel calm, ‘felt’, deep connected with myself. I’m safe
Thank you Tara! I use to guide my.clients into this practice. It’ powerful indeed!
Karina Bercovich, clinical psychologist, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Robert Rendo says
I’m using this knowledge to better communicate with my wife of 23 years. I want to be able to address her emotional needs and create more intimacy, but I also need to guard against my own crap from a dysfunctional father-son relationship. I do not want to repeat my dad’s mistakes. My wife is worth it. I want to be more whole for myself so that I can be my best for my wife.
Vic T. says
placing my hand over my heart is a physical connection to the inner me.
it’s like ‘laying of hands’…..only onto myself…know what i mean??
thanks Tara
Katja Biesanz says
A client called for help communicating in a triggering situarion. I was almost done watching this video. Somehow the kindness transferred to her, and she understood how to “take care of herself” without triggering another. She deeply understood, as we had a connection clearer and deeper, even over the phone, than we’d ever had before. Thank you for sending out these ripples of compassion
Darek Jackson says
Love it Tara!!! ???
Menique Perera says
Wonderful explanation of the 3 steps ending with the hand on the heart. Thank you Tara! ❤
Sheralie Wood says
It’s such a simple gesture, but when I put my hand on my heart something in me eases. I can then see the harshness in how I normally treat myself from a place of care & not a place where I just heap on more judgement of the judgement.
Anonymous Says says
Gratitude and a chance to share knowledge and compassion to those who wish to receive it.
Cecile Mitchell says
Reluctance and then calm
I can see starting a session off with this gesture of Kindness since it brings you in touch quickly with your self and was calming.
Anonymous says
I felt self connected and calm. I will do this practice again as I so enjoyed feeling calm.
Thank you
Kevin Kraska says
I felt sadness arise, and a feeling of protectiveness of my inner child.
Sue Phillips says
I found this very interesting and useful for myself and my clients. I am doing this quite late at night and I was feeling very tired and wondering if despite my interest, I could stay awake till the end. After doing the gesture of kindness I now feel wide awake, alert and keen to get on to the next section. Thank you.
Margaret Shamel says
Self acceptance for me is VERY difficult! But, I really liked the exercise at the end. I felt a sense of calm.
Jo Harris says
A sense that life issues could be resolved by practicing self kindness.
With clients I would stress the importance of practice to re wire the brain
R J says
I felt peace. I want to help clients cultivate more self-compassion and offer themselves messages of care.
Liliana Zegarra says
Peace, self acceptance and joy. I will start practicing for myself and then share with others specially in my family. Thanks a lot!
G G says
It felt forced and not real.
Anonymous says
Some tears and a sense of relief, as I do try and practice these three things.
Gleni Moore says
Hand on heart, I told myself “I love you. I’m sorry for your suffering and fears.” I felt tears spring up in my eyes. I knew an inner part of me felt accepted and not a failure for living with fears a lot of the time. I have felt so inferior because of these recurrent fears and have hardly told anyone about them. I have judged myself and now that’s turning into acceptance.
Tisna says
i am relearning and unlearning and struggle with the need to let judgment go
Anonymous says
it made me sad
Kevin topliss says
im ready to forgive myself
Laura Smyth says
I felt compassion toward the part of me that I usually judge harshly. I recognized how she allowed me to survive during a very challenging time in my life, and without her, I wouldn’t be alive today.
Laura Schulte says
Oh gosh–THANK YOU!!! As a therapist, I knew all the things to say to my clients to help with the life-long “scripts” in their heads, that held them back from experiencing true self. Sadly, I have always found it difficult to practice what I preached!
I fully understand and support the concepts in this video, and most recently (in some pretty dark moments), I have begun practicing them! Watching this video only reinforces 1) What I know to be true, and 2) what I now need to do for myself on a regular basis….
Again, THANK YOU Tara!!!!!!!
Noris Binet says
Hello Tara,
Yes, I think that you are making a very good contribution by encapsulating these teachings in a way suitable to introduce almost any client that is ready. Right now I am working with a Spanish speaking clientele. I have been a meditator as well and in a spiritual path under the non-dualistic orientation. I am not sure if this is the question but that is what I understood. Personally I will say that it is very effective as you guide the process and I found it very useful to be assisted and supported in this simple but profound way.
Kathy Fielding says
With the hand on heart gesture I experienced a sense of peace and acceptance. My inner voice assured me everything was ok and to be gentle on myself.
With gratitude Kathy
Connie Wuest says
At first I felt a comforting love for myself and it quickly became a bigger love from everywhere. Thank you, Tara
Linda Shake says
Loving acceptance, warmth
David Quegg says
A sense of gratitude for showing me the path, and gratitude for myself for seeking it and gathering the knowledge to offer a gesture of kindness to myself.
Kim Heiss says
I felt a softening
john hanbury says
as i placed my hand over my heart, i felt connection, warmth of my hand, tenderness of touch, access to my inner self. as i expressed words of comfort towards myself, i began to feel an opening in myself and a willingness to hear what was said, an acceptance of the kind words used,
and an allowing of the words to be words.
Petra Myhren says
I felt warm and safe. Thank you Tara ♥️
Carolyn Bradley says
I hear others’ unkindness toward me afterwards. I feel like loving myself does not counteract others not behaving in a loving way. I have worked with many LPNs and elders and their families and I recently learned that people with dementia react to your face and body signals as much as to your words. I have a long history of fibromyalgia pain and fatigue; I think that other people “read” that in my body, face and voice and that this in particular has been a source of difficulty in connection, in both my professional and personal life. But, I will try to continue with this exercise because I did feel a mild relaxation of my muscles.
Anonymous says
Thank you Tara! This has been extremely beneficial and will repeat, repeat, repeat.
I felt an energetic expansion in my heart and the pressure in the top of my head lifted.
Lightness returned & I felt harmonious.
Yanina Choroszczucha says
Tara, you are such a great teacher! I hope we can translate it to Spanish so everyone in Argentina could follow you. Every time I do your meditations or listen to your talks, I feel happier.