Hey friends, Jen here, and this is a happy bit. I'm talking in this happy bit about

everyday self-compassion. And let's start with the word compassion, which Kristen Neff

defines as loving, connected presence. We all have had opportunities to be compassionate with other people when they're struggling

or suffering or need a listening ear and we know perhaps intuitively or at least we have learned

to show up for them with loving, connected presence, to be mindfully there and present with

our full body language, our full attention,

our full listening ears, and our full awareness and in the energy of love. And that

compassionate connection with another human can really lift us all up. We need each other.

But what if we were to turn the tables inward? Are you engaging in loving,

connected presence with yourself? Are you self-compassionate? The way to start being self-compassionate

is awareness. Asking yourself, what do I need right now in this moment to show up as my best self?

Maybe you notice, as you ask yourself that question right now, that you feel tired, or that there's

tension in your shoulders, or that you feel a sense of worry about something happening later this

week. Or maybe you notice that you feel a sense of worry about something happening later this week. Or maybe you notice that

you want more fun and adventure and excitement. Maybe you want to call a friend and go to lunch.

Maybe you want to book a trip. Awareness is the first step of self-compassion. Now, why should we

even be self-compassionate? I've heard people say,

oh, well, we should not worry about ourselves. We should forget ourselves and serve everyone else.

That's the way to live a nice divine life. But I have found when I try that approach or when I

tried it in the past, my form of love and

connection with other people gets really shallow and hollow because there's no foundation

underneath of being self-compassionate first, of loving and connecting with myself first.

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