Tend To Yourself Thursday {5/16}

As we gather for another Tend To Yourself Thursday, let’s take a moment to receive the wisdom of Rumi’s masterpiece, “The Guest House.” In its poetic verses, we find insights into concepts of mindfulness, radical acceptance, and emotional resilience.

The Guest House by Rumi:

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, 
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

The power of poetic medicine: Every time I read this piece I notice a felt shift in my own body. An opening, a softening, and a gentle assurance that whatever I’m experiencing is okay and a normal part of the human experience. For me, this contributes to healing and breaking lifelong patterns of self-denial and discomfort with feeling deeply.

Rumi’s poem reminds us that our emotions, thoughts, and sensations are like guests arriving at the doorstep of our consciousness. How do you greet these parts of your experience? We often attempt to turn away by resisting, judging, numbing, bypassing, etc. But this works temporarily until they come back knocking louder as mental, emotional, and physical health issues.

With mindfulness, we develop the capacity to gently turn toward our experience with openness and compassion. Maybe we don’t always feel grateful, and that’s okay. But, we create space to tap into deeper healing, emotional maturation, and wisdom. In therapy, we create a safe and welcoming space, akin to the “guest house,” where all emotions are invited to be acknowledged and tended to.

As we journey through the ebbs and flows of life, may we approach each emotional experience as a gift – an opportunity for learning and transformation.

If you’d like support on your own journey of healing and self-discovery, please feel free to reach out. My team and I are here to support you every step of the way.

Warmly,
Elana