“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.” ~ Iain Thomas
Absence is sometimes a necessity to maintain one’s softness…
“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.”
Softness and sweetness are two of the most undervalued and underestimated qualities that one can nurture. To be soft in a world that seems to desire hardness and to cultivate sweetness in continual sea of bitterness takes effort, skill, determination, and mindfulness.
While so many wish to paint softness as a weakness, it is in reality a strength. To be soft means that one chooses to deviate from a heavily pre-laid path and mindset and instead forges a path of their own. To be soft means that one nurtures their soul instead of depriving it. To be soft means one acknowledges all of themselves and shows love, kindness, and tenderness to every single part of who and what they are.
To be soft, in short, is to be fully human and compassionately okay with that.
To be sweet does not mean to be toxically positive or manically upbeat at all times (just no. yikes.). It simply means that instead of stewing in bitter, hateful rhetoric and festering resentment, one chooses to seek out more optimistic views. Yes, all of the so-called “negative” emotions should be felt, acknowledged, and dealt with accordingly. And, yes, sometimes they do linger, but by not allowing the bitterness to seep into your soul and grab hold, you allow yourself to open up to all of the sweetness that is there too.
By being actively mindful, you can control just how much the world around you can dictate your state of mind. Is it difficult sometimes? Yes. Can if feel downright impossible at times? Hell Yes. The thing is, though, that by choosing softness, sweetness, love, and kindness (especially towards yourself) you are choosing a deviant, defiant, amazing way to live and to protest against the broken systems around you.
I’ve been absent from a lot of social media and from this site because I was beginning to lose touch with my softness and I was not being gentle, loving, or kind to myself and it sucked. I really dislike it when anger feels like my default and when I start directing blame and hate towards myself simply because I feel out of control and ungrounded. By re-establishing mindfulness I was able to re-center and re-ground myself and to get back in-touch with my softness.
For me, it’s this kind of rebellion against the pre-set establishments that want us small, broken, hateful, and mistrustful of ourselves that will ultimately break us free. Start with you, with forgiveness, with softness, with sweetness towards yourself and let the progress flourish from there. I’ve missed you and I can’t wait to get re-acquainted!
Namaste ~ Ella
~ Affirmation Mondays are positive words of wisdom, insight and joy to add a bit of cheer to the start of your week and any day you need a bit of a pick-me-up! For even more inspiration please check out my Affirmation Mondays Pinterest Board and my Quote-spirational Board!
Lawhimsy 