Self-Compassion Articles

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn

We walk through most of our days on autopilot. Our minds replay stories, rehearsed fears, hopes, and assumptions. Many of the beliefs that run us aren’t really ours—they’re inherited, absorbed, unexamined.

As I learn to navigate the intricacies of my life, I recognize that overwhelm has been a consistent theme since childhood. Growing up as a highly sensitive child, I internalized the feelings of overwhelm not only as part of my own experience but also through observing my mother's struggles. I watched her grapple with the weight of life's demands as a single mother, often feeling helpless as she failed to seek the support she needed. Her inability to thrive in these moments of stress became ingrained in my perception of what overwhelm looked and felt like.

The harmony between our bodies and minds is a beautiful symphony, designed to bring us a sense of wholeness, function, and ease. Together, they work to navigate life's challenges, sorting out solutions and creating balance. However, in today's world, the mind often dominates, leading to rumination—a pattern of repetitive, negative thinking. This can carve deep neurological grooves in the brain, predisposing us to depression, often occurring beneath our conscious awareness. On the other hand, our bodies, through pain, send vital signals—pleas for change, self-care, or cessation of harmful habits. Pain, whether physical or emotional, is a remarkable mechanism pointing to unmet needs. Listening to pain, instead of suppressing or ignoring it, restores balance and fosters healing.

Presence is a practice. It asks us to put down the phone, quiet the mental to-do list, and simply be – here and now – with another person. It’s in those moments that we gift each other something priceless: the reassurance that we’re seen, valued, and not alone.

The other day, I was listening to the following words from Joe Dispenza about peace: Your state of mind and energy dictate your future outcomes. By consistently practicing presence, you create a foundation for peace that transcends temporary challenges. These words deeply resonated with me, reminding me that true peace is not something we stumble upon but something we intentionally cultivate.

I’ll never forget the man I saw at the Las Vegas airport, red-faced and desperate, wrestling with his bag at the carry-on sizer. It was painfully obvious to everyone watching that this suitcase had no chance of fitting. Bulging at the seams, it practically defied the laws of physics. Yet, he kept shoving, twisting, and grunting, working himself into a full-blown meltdown.

Today I shared a beautiful moment with my son. I listed my extra (yes I had a second TV in my bedroom, which is a whole other story). A mother and her sister came by with their 8 year old son to pick up the TV. I listed it at a very low price and had huge response. I let my intuition choose who the TV would go to.