Thoughts on Being a Human
When I look at some people, I can see one specific feature. These people are never satisfied with what they are; it seems like it's never enough for them. Whatever level of success they managed to achieve, whatever dreams they pushed toward the reality, it's never enough. It almost looks like they are the most ruthless judges for themselves, punishing themselves for some gruesome crime they committed in the past.
In one of the videos I do my morning workouts with, a fitness coach says, “Be sure to push yourself enough because nobody else will do it for you.” And every time I hear those words I think, “Well, that’s not exactly true.” There are plenty of people in your life who would push you willingly, exercising their power over you, stripping you of your sacred right to autonomy. These people are everywhere – it can start with your parents, then teachers and coaches, then bosses and even friends or lovers…
Let me ask you a question. How often do you feel sorry for yourself? Oh, I almost see your faces grimacing in aversion. Okay. Let me rephrase. How often do you exercise sympathy toward yourself? What is it with self-compassion that it's rather easier to feel sorry for somebody else but you? And yet research suggests that self-compassion is a key element to well being.
