Learning to be with yourself

One thing that I've been struggling with a lot lately on my Path is learning to just be in my own skin, and sit still. Not in the physical sense, but in the more metaphorical sense of learning to just sit through everything that comes up. This means feelings, thoughts, desires, compulsions and impulses. I see how much my mind wants me to just get out of my present experience. It does this through thinking and acting out. But the truth is, the present moment, right here, is a completely safe place to be. This summer has been a true lesson in learn to just be with myself. I'm starting to see that I'm going to be with myself every day for the rest of my life, and therefore I am the person that deserves the most love, respect, patience, and gentleness from myself. I try to make my mind a hospitable place to live. It definitely didn't use to be. Anxieties, worries, stress, and over-thinking everything made my mind a very unsafe neighborhood. I realized I was hanging out in a bad neighboorhood, ALL THE TIME! But I learned that I had control over what kind of neighborhood my mind and body are for me. Today I try to feed myself foods that are good for my body and similarly think thoughts that I'm comfortable sitting with. This means thoughts of self-love, compassion, believing I am enough, that everything is exactly how its supposed to be. Encouraging and positive thinking has given me the ability to just be with me, and not want to run away. I am learning to befriend my mind and my feelings and make them things I don't mind spending every single day with. The more that I can be comfortable in my own skin and with my own thoughts and feelings, the less I act out and project things on other people. The nicer I become, and the more love I have to give. This does not mean that I never have an anxious thought or negative thought. I have tons! But today I love myself enough to set them aside, because I know they won't add to my well-being. Its not always easy, but I always feel better afterwards knowing that I honored myself and my self-esteem.

How liveable is your body and mind? Do you nurture your mind with thoughts that encourage self-esteem? What can you do to enjoy spending time with yourself and your thoughts and feelings?