'With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we would give a good friend.'
Hell, even people who know me just a bit (funny, since the blog is anonymous so far) feel that I am not a person of excuses and have a lot of patience. You can complain. For 5 minutes. Shout it out, get bitchy - and then move on. If you have a problem, do something against it. If you can't change it or chose not to, move on.
Still, even though I try to to play the no excuse game as often as possible (and obviously I am not perfect and learn and grow every day, hopefully), there are times you as well should be self -compassionate. This is not about making excuses, but it is just not possible to be a master from day one. You probably won't be a millionaire without practicing your draft before or getting you into the position that this was possible. It won't come out of the blue that you are happy with your partner and kid, sipping a cocktail in South America.
It is more important to do a step into the right direction, rather then making 10 into the wrong direction.
The way will probably be hard and come with a lot of sacrifices. (Yes, sacrifice means not doing something you might would have liked to do.) And if you don't manage to live up to your imagination the first time, be self-compassionate. It is ok to push, and even though natural laws don't apply to you, because you do more than everyone else, there is still a limit you can't cross from the start.
Today I went to my weekly yoga class and as usually it ends with a headstand. Oh boy, I never managed a proper posture so far. I've been there now 6 times - read: impatient - and haven't managed. I was sure that today will be the day. Then the teacher saw how I started, came over to me and stopped me. You shouldn't go further.
One moment of 'Nope, not me, I am going to ... ok, fine.' It really bothers me in this position, because that's the posture I am the furthest from being perfect. However, for every other posture I am also not perfect. What actually does 'perfect' mean here? What does perfect mean in general? What does perfect mean for your profession, your day, your life? With every time I go to yoga, I am pushing myself a bit more in every posture. Compared to other sports, you stay in the posture for a while and your mind truly realizes that there is a limit you're yet not able to cross - and that is ok.
That's why I like to do yoga: it brings your mind to emotions you are usually not in touch with that often and experience a new view. You get wiser about your body and yourself and the reasons why you feel a specific way + how to react to it.
By practicing you will get there.
Start. Push yourself. Continue. Do more. And know that it is hard.