Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

MINDFUL PAUSE PODCAST


Jun 17, 2019

I listened to an incredible episode on Super Soul Conversations, the podcast with Oprah and Elizabeth Gilbert. Elizabeth spoke about her best friend’s death from cancer and how she fell in love with her best friend and was with her until the very last moment. I cried like a baby all the way home while listening to this podcast.

There were so many AH HA moments in that interview, but one lesson that stuck out was Elizabeth said we need to give ourselves mercy first. I have never used that word. I always thought it was only a word that priests and clergy men carrying smoky incense could only use. The word “Mercy” just brings me back to mass “May God have mercy on your soul.” It sounds too Holy to use in regular speech.

Oprah asked if you must first accept what is, then give yourself mercy. Elizabeth said that first you must have mercy before acceptance, because sometimes you cannot accept what is in the moment, so first you have to give yourself mercy that you are not in the right place or can’t accept what is in that moment.

It blew my mind. Mercy. We don’t give ourselves it enough, or even at all. You can call it mercy, or give yourself grace, compassion, patience, love or as my dad would say “cut yourself some husk.” I still don’t know what that means.

What’s really crazy is that typically we show more compassion and mercy to those we love than of ourselves. We give mercy freely to others, but not to ourselves. We are the hardest on ourselves.

Through mercy, we no longer need to punish ourselves. We are all human. We will fail and make mistakes, say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, date the wrong person, hurt someone, be judgmental, make the wrong decision, hold onto resentments far too long, we will feel guilt and shame and anger and myriad range of emotions and actions that divorce us from who we want to be. Sometimes we cannot accept what is and we are far from being in the present moment. This is a time for GRACE. Or as Elizabeth says, Mercy. Give yourself mercy. Give yourself compassion. Give yourself understanding. Give yourself patience. Give yourself love.

This is what it’s all about right? Our life is not to be small where we confine ourselves in a limited place and create unfair rules to live by, punishing ourselves and others if things don’t fall in line with our expectations. Our creator made us to live the fullest life, to experience it all. But we can only do that if we give ourselves grace and show ourselves mercy.

So, that’s my invitation to you this week. How can you show yourself as much mercy, grace, forgiveness and love this week?  As always, I love connecting with you!