The Strength Required To Master Gentleness

Congratulate yourself on how well you’re doing

What does it take to look your weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and fears right in the face?

Strength. That’s what it takes.

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the twisted definition of strength that prevails in our society.

People tell us to just get on with life. To squash our feelings for they are a sign of weakness. Society tells us softness is weak, pathetic, silly.

We learn that to be strong we must suppress our feelings, our truths, our passions. We must conform. We must be socially appropriate and compliant. We must be perfect.

To be gentle with ourselves is something that many people don’t feel allowed to do. I believe a big part of this is because gentleness is often associated with weakness or a lack of character or willpower.

In reality though, becoming gentle with ourselves is often the reason we are able to look at our weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and fears. And in turn, in facing them, we are called to forge a deeper level of strength, an inner strength.

This often means we become stronger and more gentle, they go hand in hand.

To protect our newfound vulnerability we are asked to dig deep and stand our ground. Once more we grow into an even deeper strength.

Other people may or may not recognize this, but so much growth occurs when we allow ourselves to be imperfect, soft, gentle, humble, compassionate.

A great deal of strength is required to master gentleness.

I’ve written about gentleness and strength before, but it seems to be seeping into my consciousness in new and more profound ways now.

I used to have a warped idea about what strength and gentleness meant. In the past I hid from my vulnerability, I thought if I faced it I would crumble. I thought being gentle was a weakness.

When I started to face my fears, vulnerabilities, and limitations I had to learn gentleness. I had to create the energy and space within myself to return to a more steady, consistent supportive energy.

I created all this through hard work, determination, and willpower. It took all of my energy and strength to drop resistance and allow myself to become more gentle.

To commit to consistently doing the work on yourself isn’t for people that want to hide or run from their shadows. Gentleness helped me face my shadows, my unresolved pain, and my humanness.

Gentleness still helps me to tackle things I never would’ve had the courage to in the past.

To be gentle, and continue being gentle with myself has and does require a huge amount of strength.

So remember to be kind to yourself, and celebrate the little milestones and achievements you make.

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