Is your cup half empty or half full?
More important than how full is your cup, is WHAT is your cup filled with? There have been times in my life where my cup has been filled with negative thoughts, poor self image, and painful memories. When our cups are filled with negativity, self-compassion is impossible. Anything can become a weapon to tear away at our spirit.
Anyone who has travelled by air has hear the flight attendants give the standard safety message:
“Should the cabin experience sudden pressure loss, stay calm and listen for instructions from the cabin crew. Oxygen masks will drop down from above your seat. Place the mask over your mouth and nose, like this. Pull the strap to tighten it. Please make sure that your own mask is on first before helping those seated next to you.”
The message is clear. If you don’t have anything to give, you can’t be of help to anyone else.
I have found that in order to give of myself to clients, family, and friends, I must consistently check the status of my cup and purposely fill it with love and compassion. Taking time to care for my body, mind, and spirit is a necessity. And so is forgiving myself for the days when I am not my best self.
Those days that I don’t get everything done that I thought I should or when I said something that I later regretted, aren’t who I am. Compassion includes gifting myself the same compassion that I would offer someone else. I acknowledge my strengths and my weaknesses. I forgive myself. I care for myself. And when I do, my cup is filled with love and compassion which can freely flow out to those around me.
This post is from Week 1 of the 2017 Kindness Challenge. For more information or to view other participants’ submissions, please click here.
Thanks for sharing your reflection of week 2. The oxygen mask was a reframe that I needed when I first started cultivating my self-love and compassion. Struggling with feelings of guilt, this made me realize it was a necessity and it was actually helping me be better equipped to help others.
I love the importance of the cup being on what’s in it not how much you have of it. May your cup be overflowing with love, kindness, and compassion. <3