I feel anxious & hopeless a lot of the time with constant self judgement & not feeling good enough. Tara you have been in my my life for years now & listening to your talks meditation practices I am slowly learning to be more loving & compassionate to myself through it all. Those two questions I ask myself whenever I feel little less & has helped the over thinking & self judgement. For this I am so grateful. Thank you for the tenderness & love. ❤🙏
if I treat myself with self compassion I am afraid of playing the role of a victim which I’d rather not. Spending Easter holidays on my own instead of being with relatives or friends, for example, makes me feel unworthy and I cannot forget this feeling so I finally come to the conclusion I m unworthy.
For years I’ve relied on Tara Brach’s powerful yet gentle talks to cushion the blow, calm my frustration and temper, make me feel much better. So I very much appreciate this video and am looking forward to these talks. I’ve been fighting depression for the last few months, I believe for the same reason as many others during these difficult times. Feeling alone, yet too down and out to reach out to family and friends because they may not understand. However, maybe everyone else also is going through the same basic issue, how to get through the current disturbances in our daily lives and the fear of something horrible is awaiting us just around the corner. Being reminded that I’m not alone in this feeling and that understanding and kindness (without negative judgment) to myself and to others can only make my outlook more positive and stronger.
Bernadette Boes, Another Field, Redding, CA, USAsays
I have been feeling hopeless about ever living from my true self and with peace of mind. After listening to the first video, I felt some compassion for myself, some feeling of hope to live more at peace with myself.
I have a strongly developed sense of emotional honesty and intuition. I am always connected to my inner self, yet my harsh inner critic can make things tough. I need to practice more compassion for myself and set boundaries to protect myself better from being hurt so quickly. This sensitivity has allowed me to be open and vulnerable with students, connect to their inner world and be granted entrance to support their inner work. The two questions are extremely simple, practical yet deep and eye-opening. Thank you for sharing them so profoundly!
Thank you for sharing the video 👍and I like the calmness of self-inward reflection of self with no self-judgement in the present moment. I felt I am practicing self-compassion to care myself.
Thank you for sharing this video. In terms of bringing kindness to this feeling, I asked myself what compassion would look like in my case. I was able to visualize a blanket of warmth enveloping me. Then, I asked myself “what do I really need?” I realized that right now, I just need to focus on nurturing myself.
I cried. Of course I did. My harsh inner critic comes out when I feel out-of-control or vulnerable. For a very long time I couldn’t cry because of antidepressants. I welcome it now, but it seems like I am always crying.
Tara’s message and ease of integrating the steps is a gift.
I appreciate the free videos to support the broader community to heal ourselves and each other. Thank you, Ruth and Tara, for this accessible heart-centered training.
My throat tightens, and I feel that it’s hard to breathe, like some weight rises inside me up the throat, which closes the air flow.
I haven’t been able to stand up for myself and express my opinion for a very long time. And it has gathered in my throat and suffocating me.
The “U-Turn” has been most beneficial to me. I appreciate the truth that we can truly stop taking blame ourselves or blaming others with the “U-Turn”. In less than 24 hours this has come to mind and use multiple times. I feel a softening of the constant angst that has been lodged within me believing that with this practice the feelings will not prevail and I will be free of the heaviness it brings. Thank you!
When I focused my mind on the feelings in my body, while thinking of a person I felt mildly resentful towards in the present moment, I felt a stuck, uncomfortable feeling in my neck where it joins my head.
I noticed the thought arise that my head was knocked off. This was a painful thought. My resentful thought was that this other person had something which I didn’t have. And the realisation that I lacked this essential thing actually followed my noticing the resentment. I applied kindness towards my feeling of resentment, which I had not acknowledged or noticed beyond shoving away an uncomfortable feeling, basically judging myself for feeling resentment before even allowing myself to consciously feel it. Applying kindness to my heart for feeling that way toward this other person revealed a feeling of sadness at my situation, and also a judgmental thought that I was to blame for the situation I was in. When I acknowledged the sadness and allowed my heart to feel the sadness, my face crumpled and tears fell. For the past few weeks my face has been normal on one side, and the other side has had trouble with involuntary twitching, blinking, and strange muscle spasms. I had thought it looked as if one side of my face was trying to move itself into a picture of grief. However I did not feel the grief and did not shed any tears. I had held a thought for almost twenty years that if my heart broke again I would die of grief. I had not ever thought I could heal and grow stronger. And yet I had healed and grown stronger without noticing how strong I had become. The old thought that I would die if I grieved had been frightening me into closing my heart. Thank you Tara for helping to open my heart and to restore it to a kind and compassionate state. Thank you Ruth for inviting me to these free recorded video sessions with Tara.
Offering kindness to my wounded self, while guided by Tara’s instruction, made me feel as if I was holding the hand of the patient. – that I was ministering to an ailing person and that felt so comforting.
Catalina Benitez, Social Work, Vallejo, CA, USAsays
I was. an epileptic as a child, til 17 yrs. in a family of5 siblings. So often felt lonely and defective. This is core issue for me now at age 72. & effects my relationships and inner self whom I am trying to experience self love.
What I was experiencing was sadness and pain, and at the same time I recognized a little bit of hope that was also present. When I brought kindness to this experience the sadness and pain increased and brought tears to me, but they were also released — not gone, but somehow free so that there was the possibility that they would at some time be gone. And with that the glimmer of hope blossomed and my tears became tears not of pain but of gratitude.
Thank you, Tara. Your first videa resonated with me. It is amazing how these two simple questions can help to bring calm and perspective sometimes. It is also amazing how, so often, I fail to implement them! More gentle discipline and more practice needed, but I will bring kindness to that observation now and not beat myself up with judgment. In that way, I will, hopefully, have far more chance of letting these valuable practices in to stay.
Being with our wounded parts from a place of compassion… the key to all relational healing is compassion which cannot be present without the inherent quality of love, Self-love and love of Others… I felt a wonderful warmness in the area of my heart after this practice, we need these gentle reminders to show compassion to ourselves and toward others, thank you very much for this experience
I hear your expressive words &!experience & recognise parts of myself & others & clients also. It reminds me of how I feel when I am compassionate & reaching out unjudgementally to ‘others’ and when they reach out it respond unconditionally & compassionately to me. Our liberation really does come from how we interact with one another. 🙏
I initially felt very tearful as I connected with my suffering. I then experienced a great warmth radiating up through my torso as I showed this part of myself tenderness and love.
I will write Tara’s questions in my journal so that I am able to remind myself when these feelings of unworthiness arise…as they sometimes do. 🙏🏼 Thank you!
Julie MacFarland, Social Work, Phoenix , AZ, USAsays
Thank you so much Tara. I am very stretched thin for money. Your resources help me so much. I am so appreciative for your guidance and compassion. It means so much to me.
Monique Flores, Social Work, New York , NY, USAsays
At first it felt uncomfortable connecting to the feeling of anxiety and then slowly as I was giving myself love/kindness I felt comforted and just observed from a different perspective and the feeling of anxiety softened.
It was hard to bring kindness because that voice kept saying, no you don’t deserve this! I put my hands on my throat, and then rubbed my shoulders and the back of my neck, which helped me connect somewhat with that kindness. I find myself thinking that I want someone else to show me that tenderness and then it will be more valid. I’d like to be more skilled at seeing that validity within.
I felt mostly grief/ sadness due to recent loss of my lovely dog, I feel lost/ lonely but having a hard time being there – for me – to release the emotions. When I asked ‘can I sit with this’ I felt a smile coming up through my tears. It felt warm to be there. Thank you for this 🙏♥️
there is so much resistance when I try to meet my sadness and unworthiness or kindness. it feels ingrained in me that I am just unworthy and don’t know how to offer myself kindness. messages I received in my childhood have become ingrained in me that I am not worthy of love. I so much want to be healed from this
I feel anxious & hopeless a lot of the time with constant self judgement & not feeling good enough. Tara you have been in my my life for years now & listening to your talks meditation practices I am slowly learning to be more loving & compassionate to myself through it all. Those two questions I ask myself whenever I feel little less & has helped the over thinking & self judgement. For this I am so grateful. Thank you for the tenderness & love. ❤🙏
if I treat myself with self compassion I am afraid of playing the role of a victim which I’d rather not. Spending Easter holidays on my own instead of being with relatives or friends, for example, makes me feel unworthy and I cannot forget this feeling so I finally come to the conclusion I m unworthy.
I feel more comfort and light in my heart and more open to be honest with my self ♥️
Those two key questions will help bring enlightenment and, I hope, self-acceptance and kindness.
Tara’s sharing of her trance of unworthiness was powerful, as were the steps of noticing what’s happening and offering kindness and self-compassion.
For years I’ve relied on Tara Brach’s powerful yet gentle talks to cushion the blow, calm my frustration and temper, make me feel much better. So I very much appreciate this video and am looking forward to these talks. I’ve been fighting depression for the last few months, I believe for the same reason as many others during these difficult times. Feeling alone, yet too down and out to reach out to family and friends because they may not understand. However, maybe everyone else also is going through the same basic issue, how to get through the current disturbances in our daily lives and the fear of something horrible is awaiting us just around the corner. Being reminded that I’m not alone in this feeling and that understanding and kindness (without negative judgment) to myself and to others can only make my outlook more positive and stronger.
I have been feeling hopeless about ever living from my true self and with peace of mind. After listening to the first video, I felt some compassion for myself, some feeling of hope to live more at peace with myself.
Tara Brach is so wonderful in her to guide us into the real way of healing this sense of unworthiness. Thank you
As you know, it’s always a struggle. We fight to hang on, we fight to let go. But your videos helped; at least to give me hope and another tool.
I have a strongly developed sense of emotional honesty and intuition. I am always connected to my inner self, yet my harsh inner critic can make things tough. I need to practice more compassion for myself and set boundaries to protect myself better from being hurt so quickly. This sensitivity has allowed me to be open and vulnerable with students, connect to their inner world and be granted entrance to support their inner work. The two questions are extremely simple, practical yet deep and eye-opening. Thank you for sharing them so profoundly!
Audrey H.
I could really identify with Tara’s experience. I was able to feel some relief in my body, and feel hope for change even at my age. Thank you
Part of me said to the other…”okay, I get it.”
Thank you for sharing the video 👍and I like the calmness of self-inward reflection of self with no self-judgement in the present moment. I felt I am practicing self-compassion to care myself.
Thank you for sharing this video. In terms of bringing kindness to this feeling, I asked myself what compassion would look like in my case. I was able to visualize a blanket of warmth enveloping me. Then, I asked myself “what do I really need?” I realized that right now, I just need to focus on nurturing myself.
I cried. Of course I did. My harsh inner critic comes out when I feel out-of-control or vulnerable. For a very long time I couldn’t cry because of antidepressants. I welcome it now, but it seems like I am always crying.
This is very pertinent. Thank you for sharing
Tara’s message and ease of integrating the steps is a gift.
I appreciate the free videos to support the broader community to heal ourselves and each other. Thank you, Ruth and Tara, for this accessible heart-centered training.
I felt in calm and peace looking inside of me without judgment
I heard a voice inside that said ‘I’ve got you’.
First there was a fear..( how? What if?..) then.. an opening, and a deep calmness, stillness.
My throat tightens, and I feel that it’s hard to breathe, like some weight rises inside me up the throat, which closes the air flow.
I haven’t been able to stand up for myself and express my opinion for a very long time. And it has gathered in my throat and suffocating me.
I felt an infinite Gratitude for you, dear Tara. I felt sadness, love, relief and compassion.
I felt more respectful and calm with myselfI
This is beautiful. Inner self reflection, compassion to ourself can be the beginning of our healing journey. I love it,
I felt a sense of peace, acceptance and relief
The “U-Turn” has been most beneficial to me. I appreciate the truth that we can truly stop taking blame ourselves or blaming others with the “U-Turn”. In less than 24 hours this has come to mind and use multiple times. I feel a softening of the constant angst that has been lodged within me believing that with this practice the feelings will not prevail and I will be free of the heaviness it brings. Thank you!
When I focused my mind on the feelings in my body, while thinking of a person I felt mildly resentful towards in the present moment, I felt a stuck, uncomfortable feeling in my neck where it joins my head.
I noticed the thought arise that my head was knocked off. This was a painful thought. My resentful thought was that this other person had something which I didn’t have. And the realisation that I lacked this essential thing actually followed my noticing the resentment. I applied kindness towards my feeling of resentment, which I had not acknowledged or noticed beyond shoving away an uncomfortable feeling, basically judging myself for feeling resentment before even allowing myself to consciously feel it. Applying kindness to my heart for feeling that way toward this other person revealed a feeling of sadness at my situation, and also a judgmental thought that I was to blame for the situation I was in. When I acknowledged the sadness and allowed my heart to feel the sadness, my face crumpled and tears fell. For the past few weeks my face has been normal on one side, and the other side has had trouble with involuntary twitching, blinking, and strange muscle spasms. I had thought it looked as if one side of my face was trying to move itself into a picture of grief. However I did not feel the grief and did not shed any tears. I had held a thought for almost twenty years that if my heart broke again I would die of grief. I had not ever thought I could heal and grow stronger. And yet I had healed and grown stronger without noticing how strong I had become. The old thought that I would die if I grieved had been frightening me into closing my heart. Thank you Tara for helping to open my heart and to restore it to a kind and compassionate state. Thank you Ruth for inviting me to these free recorded video sessions with Tara.
thank you
Offering kindness to my wounded self, while guided by Tara’s instruction, made me feel as if I was holding the hand of the patient. – that I was ministering to an ailing person and that felt so comforting.
I was. an epileptic as a child, til 17 yrs. in a family of5 siblings. So often felt lonely and defective. This is core issue for me now at age 72. & effects my relationships and inner self whom I am trying to experience self love.
What I was experiencing was sadness and pain, and at the same time I recognized a little bit of hope that was also present. When I brought kindness to this experience the sadness and pain increased and brought tears to me, but they were also released — not gone, but somehow free so that there was the possibility that they would at some time be gone. And with that the glimmer of hope blossomed and my tears became tears not of pain but of gratitude.
I felt something softening in my muscles, especially in my shoulders and lower spine, and a sense of warmth in my chest. Thanks for your suggestions!
the feeling gets stronger but at the same time I feel more soft and open
Thank you, Tara. Your first videa resonated with me. It is amazing how these two simple questions can help to bring calm and perspective sometimes. It is also amazing how, so often, I fail to implement them! More gentle discipline and more practice needed, but I will bring kindness to that observation now and not beat myself up with judgment. In that way, I will, hopefully, have far more chance of letting these valuable practices in to stay.
Being with our wounded parts from a place of compassion… the key to all relational healing is compassion which cannot be present without the inherent quality of love, Self-love and love of Others… I felt a wonderful warmness in the area of my heart after this practice, we need these gentle reminders to show compassion to ourselves and toward others, thank you very much for this experience
This site needs an update to work well for visually impaired people.
I hear your expressive words &!experience & recognise parts of myself & others & clients also. It reminds me of how I feel when I am compassionate & reaching out unjudgementally to ‘others’ and when they reach out it respond unconditionally & compassionately to me. Our liberation really does come from how we interact with one another. 🙏
I felt the slight shift from regidity to softness.
I initially felt very tearful as I connected with my suffering. I then experienced a great warmth radiating up through my torso as I showed this part of myself tenderness and love.
I will write Tara’s questions in my journal so that I am able to remind myself when these feelings of unworthiness arise…as they sometimes do. 🙏🏼 Thank you!
Thank you so much Tara. I am very stretched thin for money. Your resources help me so much. I am so appreciative for your guidance and compassion. It means so much to me.
I felt sadness both for my flaws and for how harshly I’ve judged myself. I’m going to try to be more open and accepting of them both.
relief from anxiety after saying I love you you to myself
At first it felt uncomfortable connecting to the feeling of anxiety and then slowly as I was giving myself love/kindness I felt comforted and just observed from a different perspective and the feeling of anxiety softened.
It was hard to bring kindness because that voice kept saying, no you don’t deserve this! I put my hands on my throat, and then rubbed my shoulders and the back of my neck, which helped me connect somewhat with that kindness. I find myself thinking that I want someone else to show me that tenderness and then it will be more valid. I’d like to be more skilled at seeing that validity within.
really difficult to show kindness to oneself before demonstrating self love. Thanks Tara for a wonderful presentation
I felt mostly grief/ sadness due to recent loss of my lovely dog, I feel lost/ lonely but having a hard time being there – for me – to release the emotions. When I asked ‘can I sit with this’ I felt a smile coming up through my tears. It felt warm to be there. Thank you for this 🙏♥️
i feel that these videos will be helpful.
there is so much resistance when I try to meet my sadness and unworthiness or kindness. it feels ingrained in me that I am just unworthy and don’t know how to offer myself kindness. messages I received in my childhood have become ingrained in me that I am not worthy of love. I so much want to be healed from this
I still felt weary, but then I also felt held and supported.