Journal of Sacred Work

Days 271-275 Stop Beating Yourself Up! -The Art of Self-Kindness

MAN BANGING HEAD AGAINST WALL"I never blame myself when I'm not hitting…if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?" Yogi Berra

   One of the greatest Yankees ever, Yogi died this past Tuesday at 90. He is known beyond baseball for his immortal one liners like, "It ain't over till it's over" and, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it," and, "The future ain't what it used to be."  

   Everyone loved Yogi. Few of us have one of his most appealing traits: He never beat up on himself. Always affable & humble Yogi awed with his baseball skills & charmed with his light-hearted world view. 

   We laugh at the man (above) banging his head against a wall. Then we beat ourselves up everyday.

   How can we be compassionate towards others if we are not kind to ourselves? Why are you so harsh on yourself? Are you not a child of God?

   Yogi Berra was known for his compassion as well as his competitiveness. His humility was not grounded in self-hatred but in the innocent self-love Jesus taught.

   If you seek a bigger contemporary model beyond Yogi take careful notice of the finest Pope of modern times. On Sunday morning Francis washed the feet of an imprisoned Muslim woman. His compassionate presence in this world is transcendent. His sublime example is stirring the hearts of millions (including Protestants like me.) 

   Back to Yogi. "How can I get mad at myself," he said. And then went out & hit the ball as consistently as any Yankee ever has…& had fun doing it.

   Yogi wore baseball like his skin. Francis invites us to wear the robe of Radical Loving Care the same way. 

-Rev. Erie Chapman

 Photo: Man testing football helmet – Buzzlamp

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6 responses to “Days 271-275 Stop Beating Yourself Up! -The Art of Self-Kindness”

  1. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    Hi Erie, I appreciate that you have affirmed Yogi Berra and his goodness. I had never really questioned it but I suddenly wondered where did he get that name? I learned that he was born Lawrence Peter and that a childhood friend nicknamed him Yogi because he reminded him of a snake charmer. Ha! Perhaps his nickname was truer to the man than one might imagine; a wise and humble soul was he.
    I love the little yogi-isms that you shared. Here are a couple more. “It ain’t over til it is over” and ” That restaurant isn’t good any more, It is always crowded.”
    The image of the man banging his head against the wall is one that most of us can relate to, at least that is true for me. How often have I done this rather than learn the lesson that is before me.
    Whoever is in front of us is our teacher. A spiritual truth worth remembering is that when we offer kindness to another we gift ourselves in kind.
    Our minds are wired to distinguish, compare and make judgments…(so it really is not our fault) offering a little kindness or forgiveness goes a long way in our mutual healing. Thank you for today’s gifting and for your kindnesses, Erie

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  2. Alice Lopez Avatar
    Alice Lopez

    The IndieArie song, I Am Light, comes to mind this morning as I read this. The journal is a wonderful place to begin to acknowledge our basic Divinity. Perhaps that practice is the foundation for self compassion.

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  3. Terry Avatar
    Terry

    Certainly one must be kind to themselves before they can share kindness with others. Sometimes we all just need to “chill” awhile; think of all we are grateful for; and then resume living as fully and lovingly as we can. Life, with all its challenges, obstacles, and yet resplendent joy, is a wonderful gift. What we do with that life is our gift to God!

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  4. sbeng@att.net Avatar
    sbeng@att.net

    Erie: The last few days last week we enjoyed the Pope’s expression of loving kindness to people of different walks of life from those who live in a free society to the ones that are incarcerated. He has set an example of love and kindness towards mankind and expressed of his true humanity.

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  5. JVD Avatar
    JVD

    Yogi Berra and Pope Francis. Two individuals renamed to answer a higher calling. Comparisons between their character are plentiful and true, but there is another…Yoda. I was always struck by how Yogi Berra talked. His backwards goes forward way of speaking and who else is known for that? Yoda. I kind of want to believe that Yogi Berra was the model for Yoda and it appears a lot of others see it that way too.
    Quote from Yoda, “Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.”
    Quote from Yogi, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.”
    A yogi is a teacher and the best teaching is from example.
    Yogi. Happiness. Compassionate. Pope Francis.
    Exchange your words/feelings of self doubt with words of spiritual love.
    His wants were for others to succeed. He leads by example.
    Respect.

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  6. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    I had not heard of this artist or song before. thank you for introducing me to ” I am light”, Alice and for joining in the conversation and reflecting your Light!

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