self love

This morning I spent a little time creating a short yoga class that I will be providing at work on Monday. The Employee Health program is focusing on self-compassion and holding some events and classes that support this important concept.

From the definition on the Employee Health flier: Self-compassion is the ability to turn compassion inward toward oneself, especially when we believe we fail, make a mistake, or feel inadequate.

How often do we focus on our heart? Take a moment to think about this amazing organ that relentlessly beats and gives you life.

Consider what your heart would tell your brain when you are down or have a negative dialogue ruminating in your head.

The heart generates 2–3 watts of energy through an electrical stimulus called the sinus node (or SA node). Your heart is the only thing in your body that generates its own electrical current from seemingly nowhere.

Where does this electricity come from?

It is said the heart is connected to a larger energetic field linked to the universe.

Decade-long studies show the heart has its own intelligence, neurological system, and electromagnetic field. Additionally, these studies show that the heart’s intelligence is actually much larger and more powerful than the brain’s. Reference

We aren’t taught to consult the heart as a center of intelligence. If you listen to your heart, what would it tell you about self-compassion?

Consider self-compassion and the way you treat yourself. How do you feel when a mistake was made, something didn’t happen that you wished would, or your own level of adequacy? How does your heart feel about it? It is still in there beating, loving you, and providing life for you.

As you go about the rest of the day and month, where the American Heart Association focuses on heart health, consider committing to catching yourself anytime you might not be as loving to yourself as your heart wishes you might be.

Be your own Valentine and treat yourself with kindness, compassion, and understanding, just the way your own beating heart does for you.

Namaste

Esterina

Thanks for taking the time to read. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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You are the most important person to take care of. Give your time and attention to yourself first.
That statement can be misunderstood, so it’s worth clarifying what it does and does not mean. It is not a justification to be selfish, ignore others, break commitments, or dismiss the impact we have on people. It simply means that without taking care of ourselves, we don’t have much to offer anyone else.

It’s similar to a car that won’t run without gas. We need rest, nourishment, and experiences that genuinely support our well-being. That nourishment isn’t only physical. It can come from time with people we love, being in nature, quiet moments alone, creative outlets, or practices like meditation or prayer. The specifics are different for each of us, but the principle is the same: when we are depleted, everything else suffers.

Taking care of ourselves is not about accumulation or external things. It’s about being filled in a way that allows us to move through the world with more clarity and energy.

Giving to others is one of the most meaningful ways to experience that sense of fullness. When it comes from a genuine place, it often feels better than receiving. It allows us to share what we have—our time, attention, care, or presence—in a way that connects us to others.

This kind of giving is not about obligation. It’s not tied to holidays, expectations, or social pressure. It happens when we recognize a need and respond to it naturally, without keeping score. It’s an extension of having something to give in the first place.

At the same time, there is an important distinction to be made. Not all giving is received in the same way, and not all of it is sustainable.

There was a time when I spent a great deal of energy trying to give to people in my life—family members, friends, colleagues—in ways that weren’t recognized or appreciated. It wasn’t something anyone asked for. It was something I chose to do, often out of a desire to make others happy or maintain relationships. Over time, it became draining.

That experience made something clearer to me. There is a difference between a simple “thank you” and a deeper sense of gratitude. Gratitude carries a kind of presence and appreciation that goes beyond acknowledgment. It has a way of continuing forward, often showing up as care, respect, or a desire to give in return, not necessarily to the same person, but outward into the world.

When giving is consistently met without that kind of awareness, it can start to feel one-sided. Over time, that imbalance depletes rather than connects.

This doesn’t mean we stop giving. It means we become more aware of where our energy goes. Giving where it is received with appreciation tends to create a cycle that continues, while giving where it is not can quietly drain us.

In that way, taking care of ourselves and giving to others are not separate ideas. They are connected. When we are grounded and supported, we are better able to give in ways that are meaningful. And when we give in environments where it is received, it reinforces that sense of balance.

Learning to recognize that difference has been part of my own process. It has shifted how I think about where I place my energy and how I choose to give it.

Thanks for taking the time to read. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Please feel free to leave a comment or subscribe for future updates.

On Self-Compassion

You are the MOST important person on your gift list