Beyond Our Faults

“What if we could recognize our faults and look to see what is beyond them? What if we could see, with great tenderness, the painful unmet needs that have shaped our behaviors?” —Tara Brach, Ph.D.  True Refuge

“God looks beyond our fault and sees our need” are the words that inspired Tara Brach to offer the wisdom above in her book, True Refuge.

Remembered from an African American spiritual she loved, Brach sees these words of wisdom as support for self-compassion and loving-kindness when we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of self-abuse about mistakes we’ve made.

Brach beautifully guides us to an understanding that beating ourselves up is ineffective as a strategy for behaving better at the least and soul crushing at the worst.

Many of us are feeling stretched to the limit right now, likely making mistakes or saying things we wish we didn’t because of overwhelm, exhaustion, or anxiety. Letting go of self-judgment to practice self-compassion instead feels like a necessity to get through and even thrive in these tough times.

Freeing up our hearts to show us the way forward, self-compassion offers us a powerful gift we can give ourselves and the world right now.

May you be inspired to shower kindness and compassion lavishly upon yourself even when it doesn’t feel comfortable. And may your beautiful heart thank you with moments of peace, hope, and love.

Loving Ourselves