I cannot even say how moving this post was for me! I have centred my personal and professional endeavours around compassion, advocating for the power it holds to uplift our world and ourselves. Trying to instil awareness about how compassion is what binds all sentient beings - people, animals, nature - and connects us to each other and beyond. But self-compassion is the greatest challenge, for myself, and reading this was a beautiful insight into the importance of healing this ... not just for myself but for my presence in an interconnected world where I also wish to embody compassion outwards. The power of recognizing how compassion directed inwards is so beautifully connected to how we bestow compassion outwards is deeply moving. Reading this has sparked something in me that will (white literally) impact how I shape my compassion work moving forward, both for myself personally and in my animal welfare work moving forward. This will be an essay I come back to very often moving forward, and I'm so grateful for the work you do in this realm! xoxo
This was a great read, and it makes so much sense from a psychological perspective. I know in my own spiritual journey, after a childhood full of receiving messages that I was "not good", accepting that I am loved by the Creator has been a big step. I now believe it's an essential step to reclaiming our wholeness. For the longest time, I didn't accept that, and it was a real barrier to healing.
Brooke, thank you for this. What you shared is such a profound reminder that the hardest part of healing isn’t always the pain itself — it’s believing we’re worthy of love on the other side of it. Accepting the Creator’s love (or universal love, however we name it) is like flipping a switch in the soul. It sounds simple, but it’s about as simple as climbing Everest barefoot. As difficult as it might be, we’re honored to be a small part of your journey.
I’m not sure I can explain how important it was for me to read this today. Thank you. Self-compassion is something I’m working so hard to understand and give myself. Realizing we’ve been taught to fear the very thing that keeps us whole & safe is grief-worthy - and I am in the grief stage of knowing that my beliefs around how I love myself are not working anymore. It’s good news and it’s hard… the kind of hard that is relieved - even if momentarily - by words like I read today in this post. ❤️ I love this substack so, so much.
Laura, wow. You put your finger right on the paradox — the thing that’s supposed to keep us safe and whole can feel like the hardest thing to let in. That’s no small grief, and yet here you are naming it and moving through it. That’s the work of a spiritual warrior (even when it feels messy and exhausting). We’re so glad these words gave you a flicker of relief today. Notes like this mean more to us than you'll ever know.
Whew! This is an important read. I see myself in some of these points, and I have a greater understanding of those I work with. The interesting thing was that a friend heard "Have compassion for the compassionless" in her meditation ... and then I read your email. We're in so much pain. Thank you for this writing.
I enjoyed this so much. I felt it, recognized it, and have a broader awareness of the foundation of my anxiety...when it flares up as it has only recently. This adds so much more to the ongoing internals reflections as I ask myself some questions that feel important for my future, as I seek a growing calm and objective life experience. Expanding my awareness...
I cannot even say how moving this post was for me! I have centred my personal and professional endeavours around compassion, advocating for the power it holds to uplift our world and ourselves. Trying to instil awareness about how compassion is what binds all sentient beings - people, animals, nature - and connects us to each other and beyond. But self-compassion is the greatest challenge, for myself, and reading this was a beautiful insight into the importance of healing this ... not just for myself but for my presence in an interconnected world where I also wish to embody compassion outwards. The power of recognizing how compassion directed inwards is so beautifully connected to how we bestow compassion outwards is deeply moving. Reading this has sparked something in me that will (white literally) impact how I shape my compassion work moving forward, both for myself personally and in my animal welfare work moving forward. This will be an essay I come back to very often moving forward, and I'm so grateful for the work you do in this realm! xoxo
This was a great read, and it makes so much sense from a psychological perspective. I know in my own spiritual journey, after a childhood full of receiving messages that I was "not good", accepting that I am loved by the Creator has been a big step. I now believe it's an essential step to reclaiming our wholeness. For the longest time, I didn't accept that, and it was a real barrier to healing.
Brooke, thank you for this. What you shared is such a profound reminder that the hardest part of healing isn’t always the pain itself — it’s believing we’re worthy of love on the other side of it. Accepting the Creator’s love (or universal love, however we name it) is like flipping a switch in the soul. It sounds simple, but it’s about as simple as climbing Everest barefoot. As difficult as it might be, we’re honored to be a small part of your journey.
So true! And thank you so much. 😊
I’m not sure I can explain how important it was for me to read this today. Thank you. Self-compassion is something I’m working so hard to understand and give myself. Realizing we’ve been taught to fear the very thing that keeps us whole & safe is grief-worthy - and I am in the grief stage of knowing that my beliefs around how I love myself are not working anymore. It’s good news and it’s hard… the kind of hard that is relieved - even if momentarily - by words like I read today in this post. ❤️ I love this substack so, so much.
Laura, wow. You put your finger right on the paradox — the thing that’s supposed to keep us safe and whole can feel like the hardest thing to let in. That’s no small grief, and yet here you are naming it and moving through it. That’s the work of a spiritual warrior (even when it feels messy and exhausting). We’re so glad these words gave you a flicker of relief today. Notes like this mean more to us than you'll ever know.
Sooo precious and powerful a post. Thank you so very much.
Kindness first has always been my go to in life.
Respect for others and compassion continue that thread
Yes, kindness first! And thank you so very much ✨
Whew! This is an important read. I see myself in some of these points, and I have a greater understanding of those I work with. The interesting thing was that a friend heard "Have compassion for the compassionless" in her meditation ... and then I read your email. We're in so much pain. Thank you for this writing.
Love it!
I enjoyed this so much. I felt it, recognized it, and have a broader awareness of the foundation of my anxiety...when it flares up as it has only recently. This adds so much more to the ongoing internals reflections as I ask myself some questions that feel important for my future, as I seek a growing calm and objective life experience. Expanding my awareness...
So beautiful to hear. Thanks for sharing Carrie, it means a lot to watch this collective discourse unfold.