body stances for self-compassion

[Beany Boo]

“Express your mind, but not in words.”

It may always be difficult to verbalize strong emotions.

But not so difficult to do it through actions, especially ritual actions and customs.

That seems to be close to what you are doing.

... perform the action while you experience the emotions moving through...

Also, while I’m not religious, I’m drawn to the symbol of the sacred heart to represent compassion; a heart on fire. It says to me that compassion is something that is ignited, that has a slightly out of control element, as well as a heightened focus; and that could burn continuously, perhaps having unpredictable effects; perhaps being ignited haphazardly in others you encounter.

It’s a lovely, daunting idea. One I don’t feel certain about in myself. It might require practice and patience nonetheless.

If I thought my own self-compassion ignited the same stuff in others then that might be an incentive to let it spark.

[rivergirl]

Hi Manny,

I think I missed this thread when you first posted, but reading through it tonight your comment about smiling at yourself in the mirror made me think of the poem Love After Love by Derek Walcott. Sometimes it seems like an impossibly far journey from self-hatred to the place described in the poem, but most days I still think it's worth the effort (painfully slow stumbling steps and all) rg

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

[manuel_moe_g]

Wow, that's amazing, thanks Rivergirl! A little boost for my day!