In our society we tend to perceive softness and gentleness as being weak. But this is far from reality. As any hiker on a mountain trail knows, a mother bear is gentle and soft with her cubs, but fierce with anyone who may approach. In the same way most any good mother will defend her children with a similar fierceness. 

Some of the greatest spiritual teachers embody qualities of gentleness – Jesus, Buddha, Rama Krishna, Mahatma Gandhi, Sai Baba. Soft, sweet speech, beautiful character and  gentleness with others were some of their divine qualities. They were by no means weak.

Most of us need to start the practice of gentleness by being gentle with ourselves. We hold grudges against ourselves, feel guilt, regrets and remorse. Often we beat ourselves up for things in the past that we cannot change. By letting go of self-reproach, mending errors and gently embracing all of our self we make a leap towards self-love. Self love is one of the best gifts we give ourselves. It begins with gentleness.

Vow to be more gentle with yourself today in thought, word and deed. Pay attention to the self-defeating words running through the mind and change them. Become your own best friend.

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.