Compassion is the Choice

My husband and I have enjoyed a variety of adventures over the years from yoga in Bali to biking in Ireland. We experienced a very different kind of trip last month, spending a week on Block Island, off the coast of Rhode Island. One of the many unique features of the intimate island was the ability to walk from our rental home 15 minutes east to see the sunrise and 15 minutes west to watch the sunset, which we did on most days!

The island experience was exactly what I craved after a very full year professionally and personally. The opportunity to slow down, rest, and just be, without a go, go, go agenda was what I asked for and relished. We got up each morning and decided to explore the beaches full of rocks, shells and sea glass, bike to a lighthouse, walk to a coffee shop, or stay home and read.

Knowing and asking for what you need is making the choice to have compassion for yourself, the first foundational practice of CPR in the Well-Being Coaching Initiative. Like all the practices, it begins with you, and is not always easy. You may not want to admit what you really need because you might disappoint someone, fear you will miss out on something (FOMO), or could appear weak because you are tired (aka human).

To choose compassion for yourself requires you to be honest about your capacity, your basic human needs to feel your very best. You get the opportunity to choose every day. For example, set a hard stop when you leave work to get to the gym, say, no thank you to an invitation you know you don’t have time or energy for, or carve out time in your day, weekend, or vacation to get more rest or more activity.

When you keep your word to practice compassion, you will find the effects are immediate and long-lasting. While I loved our time on the island, I was truly ready to get back to my life feeling rested, relaxed, and re-energized. I also experienced a deeper appreciation with a fresh perspective for everything. This is because I asked for and got exactly what I needed.

You can do this too. Compassion is the choice of giving yourself the time and permission to know what you need and asking for it.

What compassionate choice can you make today?