Have you ever noticed that something painful happens, and then your mind makes the experience even harder? Maybe you start blaming yourself, questioning what you did wrong, replaying what happened, or getting caught in shame and self-criticism.
One of my favorite teachings from Buddhist psychology is the story of the “second arrow.” The first arrow represents the pain or difficulty that naturally comes with being human. The second arrow is everything we add to that experience—the judgments, stories, and self-criticism that can create even more suffering.
In this short video, I talk about how recognizing the second arrow can help us relate to difficult experiences with more compassion and less self-blame. When we become aware of the ways we may be adding to our own suffering, we can begin to respond to ourselves differently and create more space for healing and emotional resilience.
If you tend to overthink, blame yourself, or struggle with shame after difficult experiences, take a few minutes to watch. And if you’d like additional support in learning to respond to yourself with more compassion, you can schedule a free consultation.
