A little self-compassion helps upon the Way…
Dear Traveller,
It is time that you started being nice to yourself; you are a beautiful person with something unique to offer the world. While it is important to prepare for war, don’t wage war upon yourself in such a way that you become your own critic, which would just allow your internal assassins to have an easy victory, and that’s no bueno.
A creative warrior strives for diligence and discipline, but also for freedom and lightness. The blossom and sword fall the same in the void; the rhythm that I aspire to learn, an equilibrium that the true mind possesses without possessing.
If authentic self-creation is your desire, then you must not berate or beat yourself up. if you’ve adopted a warrior-mind, then you are above all irrational self-abuse. A warrior knows that the past is dead and the future an illusion, therefore only the present is what exists. In this moment, you have infinity in your grasp; why not love your part in all this beauteous vastness? I think you’re worth that, so why wouldn’t you?
You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.–Buddha
Do me (and more importantly, yourself) a favour; take some time to write a good-bye letter to your critics, real or imagined. Inform them that:
- You are a creative warrior worthy of love
- You are on a heroic path towards excellence and thusly have no time for dead memories and hurtful falsehoods
- And that they are no longer welcome to steal time from you.
Although we are united in our struggles, we are also alone with our own selves. Why not be your own best friend as you sojourn? What do you say?
Yours upon the Way,
Shinken
P.S. You don’t have to share those letters; but if you wish to do so, feel free to drop me a line at shinkendf@gmail.com. ¡Gracias!
