You Are Not Alone

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"You are not alone" is one of the mantras that I often encourage others to embrace as a "green" statement or "believe" statement.  The value of sharing our own meaningful stories with one another is one of the most powerful ways of connecting and embracing courage to persevere during struggle.

The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors is a community of burn survivors, their loved ones, health professionals, and firefighters that promotes sharing stories of healing and common experiences with one another.  I am both honored and humbled to be speaking at this year's Phoenix World Burn Congress, being held in Providence, Rhode Island.  Roger and I are grateful to be joining the participants in the workshops for several days and would love for you to join us on the journey as share via social media, facebook, instagram, and twitter.  I would love for you to follow along as I share about our experiences in Rhode Island!

Key 8 – Self-Compassion

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What does it look like if we can speak to ourselves as we speak to our friends?  What would it feel like if we were able to calm ourselves by repeating a mantra?  A phrase or blessing I often tell myself is, “May I be deeply and radiantly beautiful.”  The idea of radiating love and beauty both to myself and to others is a calming, empowering, and self-compassionate statement.  Actively loving myself as I would love others is a practice worth developing. 

We cannot change the world by a new plan, project or idea. We cannot even change other people by our convictions, stories, advice and proposals, but we can offer a space where people are encouraged to disarm themselves, lay aside their occupations and preoccupations and listen with attention and care to the voices speaking in their own center.                                                               

—Henri Nouwen 

Thought to ponder:  What act of self-compassion could strengthen me this week?