Let’s Stop Thinking We’re Broken—A Path to Loving Ourselves More

I want to share something really cool with y’all.

My active, visual meditation (that is, when I use the Clear Path Process) has changed recently. More often now, when I have a problem, instead of starting the process with the intent to fix it, I much more quickly create a nonjudgmental, loving, welcoming inner environment. Because when I’m fixing, aren’t I sending myself the message that I’m broken or in need of repair? I don’t want to support that view of myself.

Want to try this?

Maybe you don’t! If giving up fixing yourself is tough, have a look at what it’s doing for you—the benefits or perceived benefits. Here’s one possibility: If I’m fixing myself, I’m acknowledging damage and hurt and I’m improving my self-awareness. Okay, that’s fine. And I’m attending to myself, taking care of myself. Also fine. But with that downside of having the concept of being broken.

Can we do those things in a different way? I say yes. Let’s see and acknowledge problems and hurt without viewing ourselves as broken. Let’s acknowledge—and send love to—those aspects of ourselves involved in the fixing, and let them (it’s really us; you know that) understand we appreciate their loyalty, care, and diligent work. In the process, I aim lots of love at them, imagining it coming out of me and going to those aspects. Then I see what happens. Often, I feel different and my image of that part of myself changes.

Then, we can ask them to do their jobs—their jobs of fixing us—differently, or to switch jobs, or to retire and enjoy themselves. These parts of ourselves can keep their basic purposes of caring for us. But changing how that’s done can shift our energy away from fixing and alter our view of ourselves to something—well, you fill in the blank, with a word other than “broken.”

It can also free up some of that fixing energy for other things. Could you use some more oomph in areas other than fixing?

Worried you’ll stay stuck with problems if you aren’t concentrating on fixing them? Sometimes, simply welcoming and sending love to an aspect of yourself is enough to start it changing for the best.

As I said, this is really cool. Why? Because you can begin to live less out of finding fault with yourself and more out of loving yourself. And that’s a marvelous method for personal development.

For more info, sign up to be on the Clear Path Process e-mail list. (I promise I won’t flood your inbox!)

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