Wisdom from Meryl Davids Landau

You, and your spiritual practice, are perfect just as they are. If you read that and rolled your eyes, you’ve got some work to do.

We live in a culture of criticism. Our moms told us to stop sucking our thumbs; our teachers circled (in red!) every mistake we made; our friends and the media constantly remind us that few people are sufficiently thin or attractive; and every time we leave a movie, the first question we’re asked is, “What did you think?”

So it isn’t surprising that we fall into the habit of judging ourselves. What’s more, we constantly judge our progress as we amble down our sometimes rocky spiritual path. If we had a terrible meditation–or heaven forbid, didn’t meditate at all–or haven’t been to a yoga class in ages, we beat ourselves up. If we get angry or agitated at other people, we question whether we’ve made any spiritual gains at all.

I recognize this spiritual sabotage because I’ve done it myself. But when you think about why we’re trying to live spiritually in the first place, this makes as much sense as cutting off a flower bud because it hasn’t yet showed us its bloom….Continue reading at InspireMeToday.com.

Meryl is an award-winning writer and the author of the new spiritual women’s novel, Downward Dog, Upward Fog.

Photo Credit: Max Elman

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Donna H.

3:14PM PDT on May 6, 2012

Thanks for posting.

send a green star

Meryl D.

11:43AM PST on Jan 3, 2012

@Sandra M. I'm not saying you shouldn't strive for the best spiritual practice you can. (I certainly do, because like you I know it makes me better in every way.) I'm just saying it's important to be gentle towards ourselves when we fall short.

sandra m.

11:34AM PST on Jan 2, 2012

Thanks,but as much as I try to cut myself some slack,I find a greater need to pick it up....
I don't like what happens when I don't!

10:13AM PST on Jan 2, 2012

So glad this post resonated with many of you. I feel so strongly that we need to cut ourselves a little (or a lot) of slack when we're not perfect--which is most of the time! Here's to a lot more self love in 2012 for us all!

Siobhan J.

7:09AM PST on Jan 1, 2012

Great article, we are all on the path to try and become the best we can be. Don't antagonize yourself.

peggy p.

12:46AM PST on Jan 1, 2012

nicely done

Carmen S.

2:23PM PST on Dec 31, 2011

thanks for this inspirational article

Elvina A.

1:46PM PST on Dec 31, 2011

Thanks for the post!