“Mindfulness practice suggests that we give up on self-improvement and instead begin a course on self-acceptance. The way out of our unhappiness is not to fix ourselves.” – Henry Emmons, The Chemistry Of Joy

Do you accept yourself for who you are? Can you forgive yourself and move on? Do you love yourself and have self-compassion? Be aware of the burden of your thoughts. Do you suffer because you can’t let go of something?

Here is a cradling exercise, by Angeles Arrien, from the book, The Four-Fold Way. This cradling exercise is a four-fold practice of honoring who you are and remembering the interconnectedness that supports and binds all beings together.

Cradling Exercise: Lie down and place your right hand over your heart, and your left hand over your right hand. Then mindfully contemplate the following:

• Acknowledge your strengths and talents
• Acknowledge what character qualities you like about yourself
• Acknowledge the contributions that you have made and are making
• Acknowledge the love given and the love received

Namaste, world.