Befriend Yourself

(light music) Headspace Studios. Hi, everyone. It's Rosie. Welcome to Radio Headspace and to Tuesday. Today we're continuing our exploration of self-compassion, and I wanna share a very personal experience: my journey as a first-time author. Because really what better way to understand self-compassion than the rollercoaster ride of writing a book. When I set out to write my book, I was brimming with ideas and enthusiasm. But soon reality hit: the self-doubt, the fear of rejection, the pressure to create something meaningful. It was all there staring me dead in the face. And that's our focal point for today. How do we embrace self-compassion when we're pushing our boundaries, when we most likely won't get it right on the first try. Something that's helped me during those times is befriending myself. Befriending ourselves is so important because our thoughts mostly go unchecked. We can say anything to ourselves at any time, good or bad. But when we tell a friend what we're feeling, they speak kindly to us. And through self-compassion, we can learn to do that for ourselves. I sadly wasn't befriending myself when I wrote that first book. At times, I stared at a blank page. The cursor blinking back at me, mirroring my insecurities. I questioned my abilities and my worthiness, which brings me to the day I received the first draft of my manuscript. I opened the email expecting constructive feedback and suggestions, but what I saw shattered my confidence in an instant. The document was marked up with red underlines. As I scrolled through the pages, seeing the corrections and critiques from three different people, I felt a wave of discouragement wash over me. I questioned whether I had what it takes to be a writer, whether my words are worthy of being shared with the world. The inner critic grew louder and louder, fueling my self-doubt and making me question every sentence I had written. So I did what I normally do when I get overwhelmed. I went outside. I listened to the birds, took some deep breaths, and walked it out. In that moment, self-compassion became my lifeline. Instead of succumbing to the weight of my insecurities, I took a step back and gave myself a friendly reminder that writing is a process and a first draft is meant to be imperfect. I acknowledged that I was in a vulnerable state and it was natural to feel shaken by the feedback. I gave myself some time to see my editor's remarks, not as a reflection of my worth as a writer but as an opportunity for growth and improvement. And that's something we all can do. Give yourself grace. Whether it's a new role at work, launching a business, or finally getting to that passion project, tell yourself that it's okay to have off days or to feel stuck. These moments don't define your worth. They're part of the journey. And remember, we can allow ourselves to feel disappointment and frustration, but...