In this practice, you're invited to meet yourself and whatever struggles or overwhelm you're carrying with the tenderness you'd naturally offer someone you love.

That meeting itself is the practice (and not always an easy one, at that!). We are intending to move toward not striving toward a particular feeling or getting loving-kindness "right" but instead noticing what actually happens in your body when you offer yourself these wishes of loving-kindness. And if that feels too far away, there's permission built in: as much as possible.

Even a small softening counts.

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Practice reflection:

We’re often terrible at receiving. We can give endlessly—care, time, attention, energy—but when it comes to being held by kindness (especially our own), something tightens. We feel unworthy. We feel we need to earn it. We resist being vulnerable enough to let it land.

The practice of mettā (loving-kindness) helps us create the conditions for our hearts to soften, and then we try to notice what actually happens. Maybe nothing. Maybe a subtle shift. Maybe tears. Regardless, all of it is welcome.

In daily life, this looks like meeting your own struggles with the same gentleness you’d offer a struggling friend. When you mess up, can you say “of course, my love, you’re human” instead of spiraling into self-judgment? When you’re overwhelmed, can you let yourself be held by support instead of white-knuckling your way through? And when self-compassion feels impossible, there’s always the permission of “as much as possible.” Even 5% of kindness toward yourself is still kindness.

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