Being Gentle with Yourself

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

...in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.*

I promised myself I wouldn't do it. I tried not to do it. But then I went ahead and did it. So, what should I do now? I could verbally slap myself around and make me feel even worse. Or...I could talk to myself as a loving friend: "Okay, I messed up. It's over. It's done. Sometimes I go for the quick fix when I need to take the long view. I'm not the sum of my mistakes. I love and like me. Unconditionally."

What about you? Does your soul need gentle handling today?

Today I commit to:

1. Go to the 4:00 water aerobics class.
2. Buy groceries.
3. Journal.
4. Forgive my self.


*From Desiderata.