Down by the Cypress Trees

The gifts that keep on giving — compassion and understanding. I have learned over the years that sometimes the best course of action when a loved one is feeling low isn’t to try to provide advice or lessons, but simply compassion and understanding.

When we receive compassion from someone else, we may be getting something we cannot seem to provide ourselves.

I know I have a big problem with not giving myself enough grace. I have been trying to do better with it, taking on an “is what it is” approach, but it is still a struggle. I still have that voice in the back of my head telling me I am not doing good enough or that I can somehow do better, when in reality I am doing the absolute best that I can.

So today, if someone comes to you with a problem or they aren’t feeling or performing their best, provide them with a little bit of compassion and understanding. Try to empathize with them, put yourself in their shoes for a few minutes and, as I heard in a fantastic lecture once, be willing to sit in the mud with them.