But would you say it to a baby?

There's a lot of talk nowadays about the inner critic. The voices in our heads. The things we believe when things get hard.
For most of you out there, it will come as no surprise that having a baby and then caring for that baby is hard ;) THE BEST... and also hard. That being said, the opportunities I have had to hear those inner voices and decide whether or not to receive what they say are endless! 

We were kids when we learned our core values, beliefs, etc... and had established our general foundation for life by age 6. So, a lot of times when we're hearing these harsh statements in our minds during the struggles of life... it's actually something our little self learned and has just stuck for 20, 30, 60 years. Not sure if these voices are just motivation or something to look at... just ask yourself, "Would I say this to a baby??" 

Remember... learning new things is hard. Believing new things is hard. And when these new truths are coming against the foundation laid in the early years of our lives... they can be hard, even scary to believe!

I found myself struggling with grace and patience for myself in a workout recently and Lu guided me through the most simple, game changing tool:

- How old is the girl who is struggling with this belief?

- What does she need?

- Then... give her what she needs.

Turned out, she was four and just needed permission to do something without an instruction manual!

So simple, so freeing. BUT, to change what we believe when things get hard... we have to practice believing it & acting on it WHEN things are hard! Not sitting at our desk with a cup of coffee ;)

It's time to stop wearing 'I'm just too hard on myself' like a badge of honor and realize kindness and discipline can coexist. Treat yourself in these moments like you would treat a girl age 0-6... with kindness, patience, encouragement and affirmation. Build relationship with her so she can trust you. She never left, we just pushed her aside for a little while. 

Hope you get as much out of this as I have!

Big hugs,
Tess