See what I did there? The golden rule is something we talk about in my kindergarten classroom regularly. We also talk about how if we are treating others with the kindness and respect they deserve, we owe it to ourselves to treat our own selves with that same decency. Human beings have an incredible capacity to be good and loving people and I think sometimes those people who treat others the best, can be the hardest on themselves. I invite you to question your own inner dialogue, and your own actions towards yourself. Ask yourself whether you would say/do the same things you do to yourself to those who you love most. When I was at my sickest with anorexia and in my lowest place I would never for a second have treated someone else, like my mom, the way that I was treating myself. I would have never starved her, over exercised her, or told her that she wasn’t “enough” in any way. The thought alone is heartbreaking. Had I worked towards treating myself with the same compassion and acceptance that I hope to treat those I love, I would have been a lot better off. Even now as I navigate the land of recovery I still require reminders from time to time to be gentler with myself. Whether it is working myself too hard, pressuring myself to do something, or creating expectations for myself that are too high (among other things!). I think the inner dialogue sounds different for each of us depending on our struggles, but the conversation itself is similar. It is judge-y and unkind more likely than not. When you catch yourself in one of those moments I hope that you will question this thinking and try to treat yourself the way you know that you would treat someone else. This is something that we can do anywhere, any time, and it doesn’t cost a thing. I think the payback will create a richness that feels and looks great on all of us.
1 Comment
Leigh
4/9/2015 09:29:14 am
your writing is great!
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I am a woman in recovery from an eating disorder, an educator, and an overall joyful lady.Archives
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