How Can I Be More Tender?
Every so often when I meditate a powerful question comes to me as a guide for how to deepen my connection with myself, others and our world. The question I’m holding close to my heart right now is: How can I be more tender with myself and others?
For me, tenderness is a gentle, brave, loving energy akin to a warm embrace–It allows me to touch a deeper place of compassion inside.
In reflecting on this question I’m reminded of Thich That Hanh’s Four Mantras that have profoundly influenced my close relationships:
These mantras can also be transformational when used with oneself. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us that we are both the crying baby and the mother who can soothe the baby — this teaching has always been so helpful for me.
If you haven’t yet called yourself “Darling” try it out, see if it opens you up to another level of tenderness and care toward yourself.
May we each bring our full presence to support one another in heart-centered living. If the topic of tenderness interests you check out my TEDx Talk Unlocking the Secret Powers of Tenderness and get an accompanying FREE Tenderness Guide.
Author Bio: Meena Srinivasan is a contemplative leader, celebrated speaker, accomplished author, and visionary edupreneur. She is an educator-activist at heart, consistently championing the fusion of Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, and Belonging. Meena was featured as one of 2022’s 10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement in Mindful Magazine and is the Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL)™ an organization that supports educational leaders in building more compassionate and just schools. A former public school administrator and National Board Certified Teacher, Meena is the creative force behind the SEL Every Day Online Courses, an instructor of graduate level Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) courses at UC Berkeley and the CEO of Karuna Consulting, LLC, an organization that takes its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Karuna,’ signifying compassion. Karuna Consulting is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) driven by a profound mission: to foster a more compassionate world through Meena’s keynotes, professional learning, coaching, and consulting services. She is the author of numerous publications including Teach, Breathe, Learn and SEL Every Day. The latter was honored as one of 2019’s Favorite Books for Educators by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Her TEDx talk on Tenderness is one of the most popular TEDx talks of 2024 (with over 2 million views). Meena has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 25 years, is an ordained Zen Buddhist and serves on the Board of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. Learn more at meenasrinivasan.com.
