Sean Fargo recorded this episode at the end of a long day hiking in Yosemite with a 50-pound backpack, after little sleep and with a body that hurt. He describes how the mind quickly judges unpleasant sensations as bad or wrong, and talks about meeting those judgments with caring curiosity and with the kind of care we would offer our loved ones in a tough time.
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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Self-compassion helps us meet our struggles with kindness rather than criticism
- Nature and mindful walking can provide grounding during emotional turbulence
- It’s okay to slow down and offer yourself care in the same way you’d care for a friend
- Noticing judgments and allowing unpleasant feelings with caring curiosity
Show Notes:
Self-compassion helps us meet our struggles with kindness rather than criticism
Sean says it is easy for the mind to judge unpleasant sensations as bad or wrong, with thoughts like “I should not be feeling this.” He describes his own reactions, including wanting to check out through distraction and resistance, and says the training in meditation is to witness those reactions and the patterns behind them. The patterns, he says, are not right or wrong, just patterns.
Nature and mindful walking can provide grounding during emotional turbulence
Sean calls the hike a day of physical training and, perhaps more importantly, mental and emotional training. He describes climbing a mountain that feels really hard and says it is okay to feel what you feel without judging it. Once in a while, he adds, you walk up to a beautiful view and can appreciate how far you have come.
It’s okay to slow down and offer yourself care in the same way you’d care for a friend
Sean asks whether we can offer ourselves the same kind of care we would offer loved ones going through a tough time. He suggests telling ourselves that it is okay to feel this way, that it is understandable and normal, that it will not last forever and that we are not alone.
Noticing judgments and allowing unpleasant feelings with caring curiosity
Sean says he tries to allow unpleasant emotions and explore them with caring curiosity, and to remember that these feelings and sensations are not all of who he is: some areas of the body feel okay or energized. He describes looking for some pleasantness or perspective in the situation and not over-identifying with the suffering.
Notable Quotes
“Can we offer ourselves the same kind of care we would offer our loved ones who are going through a tough time?” Sean Fargo
“You can allow yourself to feel what you feel without judging it to be bad or wrong.” Sean Fargo
Additional Resources:
- Free Training with Sean Fargo: How to Teach Mindfulness With Confidence & Credibility
- Certification: Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification
- Blog: Embracing the Transformative Power of Self-Compassion
- Blog: Self-Compassion Guide for Mindfulness Teachers
