I can’t believe it. I shared the first video to my client who watched it before our session today (she is going through a breakup). She really loved the video. During our session, we spent a lot of time talking about the second arrow (a metaphor we used a lot in our work). And now I see the second video which I just sent to her. Synchronicity in this case is a blessing. I also said to her to read Radical Acceptance. Thanks again… happy you exist Tara!
Was struck by the question related to vagueness: what feelings are there that you’re not wanting to feel? As I often struggle with a sense of “numbing and not knowing”. This question shone a light on way this is so. Avoidance to connect more deeply with myself.
I think I need to do more work with this exercise. I felt a restriction or tightness in both my throat and heart area. There was some release with the self-compassion.
I am very excited to continue with the practices Tara has shared in both videos.
Sally Jenkins, Another Field, Princeton, NJ, USAsays
I’m very grateful for learning this way of moving from head to heart to heartSpace but it’s going to take me a long time to figure out what’s so painful inside — to get out of my head. I can certainly feel the vulnerability of my heart and love “the ocean that includes the waves” — reminds me of “the water in the waves and the waves in the water.” I have a long way to go but you’ve given me a practice to work with/follow.
The visualization of the two arrows and pathway of head to heart to heartspace so thankful. It will help when swallowed up in a trigger. Thank you. Sometimes I will say “ouch” then “pause” then forget the last part that no one else can do, my self compassion and self care. Thank you for the reminder and tools to do that more effectively :)!
Gisele Goetsch, Social Work, Burlinngton, VT, USAsays
This is such an important practice: to silence the harsh voice of self-judgment. As I am re-learning how to be kind to myself, I find solace in connecting to my heart and my inner child. The nurturing that is brought for the older AND the younger me is so beautiful. And in this beauty is the authenticity and allowing myself to be vulnerable.
I felt a real softening and relaxing of my mind…. and was happy to allow a self compassion at a felt sense to be with me . It felt warm and spacious and accepting.
Such a beautiful practice to focus on opening the flow with the heart. It’s a oneness and if we can do this with ourselves, we can create more oneness ‘out there’ with others.
Steve Mabley, Another Field, Washington, DC, USAsays
I felt greater acceptance of my feelings of insufficiency, recognizing them as one-sided negative judgements, lacking an open multifaced view of how I am / how I could feel. As I unclinched from judgement and moved to acceptance and care, a vision of a freer more creative presence for myself / to myself came forward.
My throat felt restricted and my gut felt twisted. I am a heart-centered person, but I am very critical with myself. I have a lot of compassion with others but with myself not really. I feel like I need to spend more time contemplating this
Initially I could hear my head saying “that this should be better by now, you’ve been doing this work for a long time”
As I moved to heart and then to heart space, I wasn’t sure how it was “happening”
I was welling up with emotions and tears, which felt uncomfortable to be with and in.
I understand that this is a practice and not just a one time event
thank you Tara
I find myself in a more compassionate and will be kinder for doing just enough time . I will unlearn and catch myself being a harsh critic to my self .
Wow, that question about “What am I unwilling to feel?” is really helpful. Many times clients share that they do not feel anything. Interesting question!
I felt a big relief when I questioned the self blame of my second arrow and I realised that it is only a creation by my mind. When I shifted from head to heartspace, I had the opportunity to evaluate my self blame on a deeper level of truth (on the level of my heart) and it turned out to be simply not true.
I found it a bit challenging to go from the mind to the heart area (too much thinking) and then concentrated on the image of the waves. Overall it was releiving. I feel that it will work better as I practice more of it…
I really connected to how I use negative self talk and judgement instead of being with my feelings of pain, anger and jealousy. The second arrow hurts me the most.
I was immediately aware of the things that I am feeling in terms of shame,
judgment, frustration and worry about my future. I then zeroed in how I felt… where was this tension centred in my body? Mostly my throat and back of my neck… then Tara requested I move from my head to my heart and give myself the self compassion I really needed and the understanding and love I really needed. I immediately felt a growing awareness and expansiveness in my whole being. “This” she said is “the heart space.”
I smiled … a smile that was barely there at first then grew … as I released into the depths of softening the kindness I showed myself gifted me. Blessings
I have much shame over my angry outbursts. I am aware of what brings them on and chastise myself for not being able to control them. I told my child inside that she belongs and then hugged a teddy bear. I offered myself compassion by realizing that any progress is acceptable I am doing my best and my best is good enough
Firstly, as I took a deep breath, I felt shivers all through my head and neck. Then I felt further tightness or pressure in the heart, and then a sense of release, easing of pressure throughout my body.
I’m 75 years old and for the first time I was able to separate the thoughts from the feelings. The thoughts are actually in my mind. It was always one space-condemning thoughts and self-hating feelings in my heart. I always felt them as one thing. When they are separate, I see that I can deal with them in different ways and not just feel them as one. That makes it able to be healed. I’m sure it was my time to be able to hear this. Thank you so much Tara for saying it. It’s been so long and I can now see a way. Grateful.
I felt the expansion and compassion for self when i could let go and make space for those to increase and the awareness of the head and how self destructive I can be.
I felt a sense of expansion and was able to identify as the ocean and not the waves. It felt warm, soft and deeply healing/nurturing. Whispering ‘This belongs’ was powerful. Thank you.
I felt very emotional for all the times I’d kept judging myself and putting myself down.
Not givin6 myself any self compassion or self care.
I can’t believe it. I shared the first video to my client who watched it before our session today (she is going through a breakup). She really loved the video. During our session, we spent a lot of time talking about the second arrow (a metaphor we used a lot in our work). And now I see the second video which I just sent to her. Synchronicity in this case is a blessing. I also said to her to read Radical Acceptance. Thanks again… happy you exist Tara!
I felt a lightness as I was reminded that feelings need to be sat with…not reacted to as is my tendency.
Was struck by the question related to vagueness: what feelings are there that you’re not wanting to feel? As I often struggle with a sense of “numbing and not knowing”. This question shone a light on way this is so. Avoidance to connect more deeply with myself.
I think I need to do more work with this exercise. I felt a restriction or tightness in both my throat and heart area. There was some release with the self-compassion.
I am very excited to continue with the practices Tara has shared in both videos.
There was an openness and a spontaneous smile. Lightness.
I’m very grateful for learning this way of moving from head to heart to heartSpace but it’s going to take me a long time to figure out what’s so painful inside — to get out of my head. I can certainly feel the vulnerability of my heart and love “the ocean that includes the waves” — reminds me of “the water in the waves and the waves in the water.” I have a long way to go but you’ve given me a practice to work with/follow.
My chest seized up
The visualization of the two arrows and pathway of head to heart to heartspace so thankful. It will help when swallowed up in a trigger. Thank you. Sometimes I will say “ouch” then “pause” then forget the last part that no one else can do, my self compassion and self care. Thank you for the reminder and tools to do that more effectively :)!
How do I get into second and third videos? His do I register for one of Tara’s programs?
The click areas for the different free videos (4 of them) are up at the top.
This is such an important practice: to silence the harsh voice of self-judgment. As I am re-learning how to be kind to myself, I find solace in connecting to my heart and my inner child. The nurturing that is brought for the older AND the younger me is so beautiful. And in this beauty is the authenticity and allowing myself to be vulnerable.
I felt a real softening and relaxing of my mind…. and was happy to allow a self compassion at a felt sense to be with me . It felt warm and spacious and accepting.
Such a beautiful practice to focus on opening the flow with the heart. It’s a oneness and if we can do this with ourselves, we can create more oneness ‘out there’ with others.
I felt an opening; but this is so difficult. I have been programmed to dislike myself for 61 years. This is going to be a long journey for me.
Tears came to my eyes, I felt very emotional. Afterwards I felt love a freedom in my chest, a tightness disappearing
I felt greater acceptance of my feelings of insufficiency, recognizing them as one-sided negative judgements, lacking an open multifaced view of how I am / how I could feel. As I unclinched from judgement and moved to acceptance and care, a vision of a freer more creative presence for myself / to myself came forward.
My throat felt restricted and my gut felt twisted. I am a heart-centered person, but I am very critical with myself. I have a lot of compassion with others but with myself not really. I feel like I need to spend more time contemplating this
Initially I could hear my head saying “that this should be better by now, you’ve been doing this work for a long time”
As I moved to heart and then to heart space, I wasn’t sure how it was “happening”
I was welling up with emotions and tears, which felt uncomfortable to be with and in.
I understand that this is a practice and not just a one time event
thank you Tara
I found myself crying during several parts of the presentation segments. It felt helpul and liberating
So hard to do when suffering with self-judgment. But so profoundly helpful when persevering !
Thank you so much Tara!!
I felt a tear and an easiness come with my judgement of myself with that exercise.
I find myself in a more compassionate and will be kinder for doing just enough time . I will unlearn and catch myself being a harsh critic to my self .
sense of relief. I am ok. I am worthy.
I felt a relief and less tense .
Wow, that question about “What am I unwilling to feel?” is really helpful. Many times clients share that they do not feel anything. Interesting question!
Thank you so much Beautiful Tara Brach
xx
I fell asleep
I felt a big relief when I questioned the self blame of my second arrow and I realised that it is only a creation by my mind. When I shifted from head to heartspace, I had the opportunity to evaluate my self blame on a deeper level of truth (on the level of my heart) and it turned out to be simply not true.
I found it a bit challenging to go from the mind to the heart area (too much thinking) and then concentrated on the image of the waves. Overall it was releiving. I feel that it will work better as I practice more of it…
I really connected to how I use negative self talk and judgement instead of being with my feelings of pain, anger and jealousy. The second arrow hurts me the most.
I felt expanded physically and in my headspace. I felt more capacity and less “squeezed.”
Very insitefull
I was immediately aware of the things that I am feeling in terms of shame,
judgment, frustration and worry about my future. I then zeroed in how I felt… where was this tension centred in my body? Mostly my throat and back of my neck… then Tara requested I move from my head to my heart and give myself the self compassion I really needed and the understanding and love I really needed. I immediately felt a growing awareness and expansiveness in my whole being. “This” she said is “the heart space.”
Does meditation cultivate the Heart space with compassion for others and ourselves?
I felt I could see a way to make changes.
Felt calm
I feel more accepting of my insecurities. The question ‘what am I unwilling to feel’ is a powerful Way to get out of fixing mode and into kindness
Relief, letting go, feeling held
I felt more compassionate and non-judgmental in respect of my feelings.
It felt calming, soothing, as if there was a bigger loving presence with me.
i feel more relaxed…more present to my body…breathing more naturally…
I felt calmer
To be honest, I didn’t feel anything. The video went by quickly, and I think I blocked my feelings.
I smiled … a smile that was barely there at first then grew … as I released into the depths of softening the kindness I showed myself gifted me. Blessings
The self care is the hardest part for me
I have much shame over my angry outbursts. I am aware of what brings them on and chastise myself for not being able to control them. I told my child inside that she belongs and then hugged a teddy bear. I offered myself compassion by realizing that any progress is acceptable I am doing my best and my best is good enough
Firstly, as I took a deep breath, I felt shivers all through my head and neck. Then I felt further tightness or pressure in the heart, and then a sense of release, easing of pressure throughout my body.
I’m 75 years old and for the first time I was able to separate the thoughts from the feelings. The thoughts are actually in my mind. It was always one space-condemning thoughts and self-hating feelings in my heart. I always felt them as one thing. When they are separate, I see that I can deal with them in different ways and not just feel them as one. That makes it able to be healed. I’m sure it was my time to be able to hear this. Thank you so much Tara for saying it. It’s been so long and I can now see a way. Grateful.
I felt the expansion and compassion for self when i could let go and make space for those to increase and the awareness of the head and how self destructive I can be.
I felt a sense of expansion and was able to identify as the ocean and not the waves. It felt warm, soft and deeply healing/nurturing. Whispering ‘This belongs’ was powerful. Thank you.
more open