I often wonder at the human capacity to be *so* down on oneself while inundated by so much evidence of what actual cruelty looks like.
To agonize over personal failure & guilt in a world where "success" is so often bestowed on people responsible for the most reprehensible acts...
We're all such messy critters.
But gentling despair at our messiness is crucial - because it gives us more space to tackle the ruins all around.
So try not to forget, eh?
Kindness with ourselves is activism, too.
Well said ♥️ and rather ironic in that I was having a similar conversation with my physical therapist yesterday.
I needed reminding to approach my weight loss goal in terms of feeling better and not, "damnit, I need to lose XXX amount and I'm not doing it fast enough and I'm failing and..." I've been negatively trained for far too long by the medical establishment that I "have" to be at a stupid BMI #.
That's part of my wall, for lack of a better word. I get to thinking of the future & end up feeling overwhelmed and then deprived when these thoughts are nothing more than a set-up for failure.
@see_the_sus
It sounds like you have amazing teammate on your health journey now. Those are so rare - and as you note, easily overwhelmed by a lifetime's exposure to the alternative.
Also crushing is the fact that weight loss is only sustainable if the way we lose it comes with lifelong changes: it is *not* possible with *any* "push and punish yourself in the short term!" mentality.
But that's our culture, too: valuing the performance of suffering over systems of genuine self-love & care. 🫂💛