Ah, the labyrinth of life, complex and intertwined with everyone else’s. At times, it feels like each step we take adds up, making life harder than it should be. This isn’t about success, insider knowledge, or even life plans. It is about you, me, us. It’s about our journey, our struggles, and triumphs.

We all have experienced moments of sadness or frustration over something that, in hindsight, wasn't as big of a deal as we first thought. We have kicked ourselves for past mistakes, lost sleep over decisions we have yet to make, and spent countless hours worrying about issues beyond our control. It's a cycle, an often unappreciated dance between our reality and our mind.

Isn't it true that we, at times, become our worst enemies? How often do you catch yourself being too harsh with the person reflecting back at you in the mirror? For me, it was beyond count, but the more I pondered upon it, the more I realised something fundamental to my growth. Life wasn't hard; I was hard on myself.

Think of the most successful person you admire. Could it be that your ideal self and their journey align? Would you believe if I told you that they must have stumbled upon the same revelation at some point? Success is not an accident. It is a compilation of empathy, understanding, and patience which we inexplicably forget to extend to ourselves.

Remember, we are not perfect and life doesn’t expect us to be. In fact, life doesn’t expect anything. It just unfolds, moment by moment. Buddha once said, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” You know, that's the key. Staying in the moment and giving yourself permission to be human, to err, to get back up, to flow freely with life. Isn't that relieving to hear?

You are allowed to take it easy on yourself, to celebrate small victories, and to give the same kindness you give others, to yourself. Can you remember the last time you patted yourself on the back for handling a stressful situation well? Or when was the last time you wrote a positive review about yourself? As crazy as it may sound, have you offered yourself a Tim Han Review? Affirmations, dear friend, are not limited to others; share some with yourself.

As an experiment, for the next week, try treating yourself the way you would treat a friend who is having a rough time. Give yourself permission to be imperfect, to be gentle and patient with yourself. Changing the internal script takes time, but each small step counts. Just as the LMA course encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace change, it’s time for us to do the same with ourselves. You owe that gentleness to yourself, don’t you agree?

Being gentle is not about complacency, it is about strategic self-care. It is realising you're a finite resource in a world that demands infinite energy. But remember, you're that sparkling droplet that contributes to the magnificent ocean of existence.

When life seems hard, take a deep breath, get into the moment, and remind yourself: you're doing the best you can. And in that realization, know that it is not about how hard life is but how gentle you can be with yourself. So, what say? Shall we embark on this journey of gentleness together and see where life takes us?