Mindful Self Compassion--A personal Story, By Laurie Hallihan

My personal journey with self-compassion has not been an easy one. It began in 2012 with 2 life changing health problems that happened at the same time. Before 2012, I am been a very active runner, hiker, swimmer and enjoyed an abundance of other outdoor activities. That all came to an abrupt halt. It was devastating. My sense of who I thought of myself as a human was thrown into chaos. I already had issues with depression since I was a child and the situation threw me even further down a dark hole of despair and self-hatred. I began to engage in self-destructive activities that made things much worse. But they also offered some relief, however brief, from the extreme suffering I felt. I was suicidal, isolating myself and lost interest in everything I used to love.

I was incredibly lucky to have a doctor who recognized the degree to which I was suffering and recommended I take the Mindful Self Compassion Course. This began a complete transformation in my life. I began to see that all was not lost. That this body I was in did not define who I was as a person. This shift in mindset was different than anything else I had tried in an effort to heal myself.

I began to find true care and love for myself. And I mean my WHOLE self...body and mind. It has not been an easy journey. There have certainly been major setbacks. But this true spark of self compassion I found within me would not allow me to stop putting effort into self care.

In the coming months, I will be sharing parts of my journey in the realm of mindful self-compassion. I hope nothing more than it lets you all know that you too can find the kindness you deserve within you. For me, it has not only allowed me to flourish, but also has expanded to the people around me. It is nothing if not. transformational process.

Yours in compassion,

Laurie