Compassion for Ourselves

Because we are so often in conflict with our knowing, our gut instincts, our built-in guidance system,
we experience distress signals from our stomach region. It is our body's way of signaling us that
something is amiss.  Nature will turn up the volume over time so that we can hear it over all the
commotion of life.  If only we had been taught to read those distress signals for what they are...
Instead we are taught to wage war against the symptoms. 

Now, consider this....from the time we were born, our parents would respond to our disturbances
by putting something in our mouths...often a pacifier or bottle.  In some other cultures a child is soothed by massage...touch.  But, in our culture, it is usually a bottle...usually administered
to stop crying.   So there is a double message there.  'Let's 'bottle it up!'

Is it any wonder that we instinctively respond to upset by stuffing something in our mouths to stop
our uncomfortable emotions? 

Let's forgive ourselves for this response...it is natural.  It's all we have ever known... 

If our parents were impatient with us, we also imbibed that emotion.  We then go on to treat ourselves with impatience, frustration, anger, upset.

Let's separate ourselves a little from those early influences.  There was a glitch in your parenting.

We can reverse that sort of thing.  How?  By backing up a little and re-parenting ourselves...
making some better history.  Taking the time to hear our upsets and respond to them with a little
gentleness and compassion.   It is OK to cry a little...or a lot.  There are tears from way back that
simply need to be cried...released.    Treat yourself as you would a tender child.  As you do that
sort of thing, there is a steady lessening of internal pressure, unhappiness, fear and pain. 
You begin to normalize in many ways..  It will take a lot of compassion and some time...
Remember...you are deserving of and worth that time.  You need it....  Life has been difficult...