Day 86 - A Year to Clear - Softening Attitudes

Photo by Jan Mellström on Unsplash

Lesson 86: Softening Attitudes

Stephanie Bennett Vogt talks about four sets of phrases in her book “Your Spacious Self” which promotes “softening attitudes”. I have not read the book myself so do not know what it entails but my understanding is about taking an understanding approach to one’s self, really being aware and applying compassion whilst being truly empathetic and expanding our thought processes in creating our spacious selves. This week’s concept of “Enough” is the start of these four phrases and the first question asked is “What is a thought or belief that you have around scarcity that you'd like to "soften" and release?”


I don’t have the same thoughts as I used to when it comes to possessions. I always thought I didn’t have enough because that seems to be the consumerist way we’ve been conditioned to think - “Oh I need that dress” “Oh I must have all those lipsticks” etc. We always seem to think what we have is scarce when we really have a lot in our lives and should live with more gratitude. I don’t believe I need to release any beliefs around my lack thereof. I know I have enough in my life and in fact I think I have so much good things happening in my life that it’s like I have enough and so much more.

I think we’ve all fallen into the trap into thinking we don’t have enough but it’s a real self-awareness to come to the conclusion that we have so much! We have loving and supporting family or friends, we have enough food on our tables, we have money to buy the clothes on our backs, we have clean water…. The lists go one really. Take a moment to really take on gratitude and try thinking about what we have good going on in our lives.

Day 86 - A Year of Spiritual Awakening - How Can You Feel Compassion...

Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash

Lesson 86: How can you feel compassion...

The compassion we hold for others can definitely be applied to ourselves. Today’s exercise is all about closing your eyes and really thinking about past mistakes, grief, shadows etc. There is no reason why you can’t hold the same compassion that you hold for others.

I feel like I have really opened myself to my own compassion as I’ve started this spiritual journey. Whether I realised it or not, I feel like I’ve really accepted past trauma that has plagued me for months and years. Yes, I had the help of hypnotherapy also but even before I decided to take that step, I really looked at past events that really swamp my mind of negative thoughts and worked through them. I approach myself with compassion because you make decisions that sometimes turn out right, whilst other times just turn your world upside down. I guess that’s all about being human. You can’t really know the impact of a decision until you’ve gone through it.

There have been some poor decisions I’ve made, but I’ve come to know that it’s all lessons in the wheel of life. At the time I may not have understood what was happening and there may have been turmoil, but in reality after some time and reflection, you start to learn how strong you can be in overcoming some hard situations and poor decisions. No one has a manual on life, so just go with what comes even when it seems like everything is in disarray. There are always ways to forgive yourself and move on.