As you deepen into the integration process, it’s important to find ways to offer yourself to others, and shift the focus from “you” to those around you. Sharing your time, energy, and resources with big-hearted people and organizations can help you expand your vision. You may want to reach out to friends and family with whom you haven’t connected for some time. As you continue to work on yourself, you can inspire more joy and optimism in those around you.
Practicing self-compassion is paramount. The person you have the most trouble feeling compassion towards could be yourself. You may often be your harshest critic. You may say or do things to yourself that you wouldn’t even say or do to those you dislike. Lack of compassion for yourself impedes your ability to practice compassion toward others. If you realize that you don’t include “you” in your circle of compassion, perhaps you can begin now.
When talking with yourself, you’ll want to adopt a tone with which you would speak to a close friend or a child. Practicing loving-kindness meditations can also help you develop compassion and self-love. When you begin to love yourself, sharing good feelings with others becomes second nature.
