“Being hard on yourself is easy…try not to do that.”

Read that again. “Being hard on yourself is easy… try not to do that.” It sounds to simple, doesn’t it. In reality it IS simple. And it is a choice. Sometimes we forget that we actually do have a choice about what rattles around in our brain. I was talking with a friend last evening about stress management, and he said he’s much better at managing it now than he had been a few months ago. I asked him what changed, and he said, “When I catch myself getting down on myself about the way something went at work, I say to myself, “Stop thinking about that. Thinking about the problem right now in that way, is not helpful. You’re not taking action, and you’re making up worst case scenarios. Stop.””

He made a choice. He was aware of what his mind was doing and made a choice to redirect it. I’m not suggesting that we suppress or deny the agitation that creates rumination. Rather, I suggest that when we notice agitation or distress that we lean into it with kindness and compassion, looking for the true underlying root of the spinning story’s cause. Staying connected with breath and body, and letting the story go, while exploring the feelings that come up from the story is a wonderful technique for learning how to be easier on yourself.

So, for today’s meditation, keep the above idea in mind as you move into an 8 minute meditation. Or, meditate in whatever way you usually practice. But remember to be kind to yourself in the process and throughout the day.