One Small Change

In this new year, could you change this one thing?

Could you use the voice of a friend when speaking to yourself?

Could you encourage yourself when facing challenges? Could you refuse to call yourself names, and instead, choose terms of endearment?

How hard would it be to say, “Lovely, you’ve had a hard day. You deserve a restful night’s sleep”? Or “Sweetheart, I love that you tried to stay sober today. We’re going to keep trying, no matter the setbacks.”

And could you go a step further? Could you love yourself like you would a child? Could you treat everything you’ve ever done wrong (in your view) as simply a mistake? A learning experience? Would you fault a child for stumbling as she learns to walk?

Could you let go of the idea of guilt, and instead rely on the love you find within to heal and comfort you?

Could you do it for one day? Could you try?

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” 

– Buddha