The Power of (Self) Compassion - Week 3
Releasing judgment and embracing self-compassion raises our vibration and aligns us with our higher purpose, creating a ripple effect that can transform not only our energy but the world around us.
Reflecting on Week 2
Week 2 Recap - Finding Peace in the Pause
As we reflect on our journey through Week 2 of The Power of Being Experiment, we’ve likely discovered the profound impact of silence and stillness. Whether it was through sitting in quiet reflection, breathing, or simply being aware of the present moment, many of us felt the powerful connection that stillness provides. Hopefully, we’ve also become more attuned to the distractions that pull us away from presence, such as worrying about the past, the future, and external pressures.
Before we continue, let’s return to our journaled responses for last week. Take a moment to reflect on the week that was. Gently notice the times you allowed yourself to sink into being-ness and what has it brought to your awareness. I say ‘gently’ because I too sometimes forget this experiment is a process in Divine timing.
Today we are looking at how we can cultivate grace for ourselves, creating separation from the Ego to honour our greater Divine plan. This is particularly important groundwork as we move into Week 4, learning to step away from our thoughts and to build greater trust in our Divine knowing.
Week 3 Focus: Finding the Power in (Self) Compassion
This week, our focus shifts to cultivating compassion—mostly for ourselves as we usually target our harshest criticism inwards. Compassion is an essential part of the journey to presence because it allows us to embrace life’s experiences with love and understanding. It is through compassion and holding an open heart that we deepen our connection to ourselves, then spread it outwards to those around us.
If you find this article helpful, please acknowledge it! A ❤️, a donation, a subscription, a comment. I love that you are here and am blessed we share this journey. Michelle x
Compassion
So many of us are empaths and hold deep compassion for others’ suffering. It is something that comes easily to most healers and those who have come into the physical to make a difference.
Whether or not this is true for you, how compassionate are you towards yourself?
True compassion starts from within. We must first learn to be compassionate toward ourselves, acknowledging our struggles, our imperfections, and our humanity.
When we are unconditionally compassionate with ourselves, we are better equipped to offer compassion to others in a healthy, more 5D way of being. Why? Because we are not here to sink into suffering and anything less than unconditional love and acceptance to ourselves resonates at the low vibration of judgment.
A 5D Perspective
When we are ready to offer ourselves compassion, we have come to understand:
we, as are all, learning and evolving through our experiences.
that our experiences are opportunities, even or especially the ‘mistakes’.
we learn in our Divine right timing - and this means certain experiences will be repeated as many times as is needed. Our growth and evolution in the physical cannot be rushed.
we respect that each Soul in a physical body has their own Divine contract or blueprint for this lifetime. This includes wounds, strengths, and goals for evolution, even if it means to suffer.
Yes, this one can be tricky to fathom - here are some of the reasons for suffering that sit on Divine plans: to force one to evolve as a soul; to create an opportunity for someone else to evolve; to create the path to transition and return to the spiritual; to guide one to clear the body of toxins; to learn compassion for self or others; to take responsibility and heal in this lifetime; or to complete healing for Mass Consciousness; and more…
we understand that our experiences are not a reflection of the quality of human being we are - how can it be if we are all Divine fragments of Source?
that judgment is an illusion of the 3D world.
that we were not born with criticism - we were taught it at some point in our lives.
that we choose how we live in our present moment, and we can choose to unlearn criticism and offer our human selves compassion.
Let’s take a moment and reflect on this. I’ve had years to come to this knowing, and it can be a lot to incorporate in a first reading.
JOURNAL ACTIVITY for reflection
Review the above, then consider the following prompts and record your thoughts in your journal. Choose which resonate or areas you would like to work with rather than completing each prompt.
Reflecting on Compassion for Myself: In the reading, it says that offering ourselves compassion is a key part of growth. How do you currently show compassion to yourself in difficult moments? Write about a time recently when you practiced self-compassion and what it taught you.
Embracing Mistakes as Opportunities: How might mistakes be opportunities for growth? What recent "mistake" or challenge have you faced, and how can you reframe it as an opportunity for evolution? What lessons did you learn from it?
Repetition of Experiences: It’s mentioned that certain experiences will repeat until they are fully learned. What patterns or repeated experiences have you noticed in your life? Do you feel there are any lessons you're still learning or evolving through?
Understanding Divine Timing: The reading mentions that our growth happens in Divine timing, and certain experiences are not rushed. Do you feel in alignment with the timing of your current journey? How do you handle moments when you feel like things aren't happening fast enough? What would it feel like to trust that your growth is unfolding exactly as it should?
Releasing Judgment and Criticism: The passage reflects on how judgment and criticism are illusions learned over time. In what areas of your life do you still experience judgment, either from yourself or others? What would it look like to release this and offer yourself more compassion in those areas instead?
If this reading and activity raise questions leave a comment below.
If we can accept this as true, our perspective shifts exponentially, and we can come to reconnect with the unconditional love and compassion our Higher Self holds for us.
ACTIVITIES
Part One - Steps for growth
Here are three activities to help support self-compassion and healing. Use the third, Hopo ono pono, daily and as often as you can this week. Read on to understand more about this powerful prayer.
Stillness
Each day, continue to find space to be. Aim for 15 minutes to breathe, focus on beauty in the natural world, and to appreciate the blessings. Allow egoic interruptions to float by without engaging. We are not our minds, but much greater infinite beings in a body with a personality - a suit for this lifetime.A Compassionate Reminder
When inner conflict arises, remind your Ego that you are learning in your Divine right timing. Offer yourself words of encouragement and self-love. Consider journaling about moments where you can be kinder to yourself. Whether reflecting on an experience either in journaling or meditation, or noticing dis-harmony, check your Ego kindly - it is only doing what it has always done. Then give yourself words of support, kindness, and love as you would a child or your best friend.
Apply Hopo ono pono Liberally
Known as the Hawaiian prayer for healing, say 'I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you’. Do this often until it becomes second nature. The vibration of this prayer sits at the highest register of Christ consciousness. This is the understanding behind it:
I’M SORRY - repentance
We are all ONE energy (energy cannot be divided) - I am you and you are me. The world is our mirror, and we are responsible for the world as we see it, even when it seems to be outside of ourselves. When we understand that our experience is created by our beliefs, words, thoughts and actions, we can repair the imbalance. We begin by acknowledging it - eg, criticism, conflict, driver irresponsibility, or health problems, and start with ‘I’m sorry’. What we are really saying is ‘I realise I am responsible for this [issue] in my life. I am remorseful that something in my consciousness caused this.’
PLEASE FORGIVE ME - a request
We can say it to the reckless driver we just judged, or any other situation. It doesn’t matter who you are addressing, just ask. Say it repeatedly and mean it.
THANK YOU - offer gratitude
It doesn’t matter who you are thanking. All are One. Accept Universal grace - this is the thank you earned simply through asking forgiveness.
I LOVE YOU - love
Say ‘I love you’ to the other, to yourself, to All that Is. Say it often and mean it. Love is the most powerful healing energy of all. You are love embodied in the physical, as are all. The more you recognise this the higher you rise.
If you have questions or comments, leave them below!
Part Two - Offer prayer / intent
Continue this week’s theme of compassion with the use of prayer. This week we will use Hopo ono pono daily. If you wish to add in your own prayer, please do so!
Next week I will again check the various vibrations according to the Bovis scale to test how much change we are creating through loving intention. Watch this space!
All are One
By embracing ownership, sovereignty, and compassion, we can transform how we relate to ourselves and others. Importantly, the deepening of presence and heart-centred way of living not only raises our vibration but contributes to the collective energy of humanity. When we practice compassion, we create a ripple effect of love that can heal and uplift those around us.
Let’s continue to practice being, and cultivate love, one compassionate act at a time.
Blessings x
Michelle Cowles
Spiritual Healer, Energy Therapist
Copyright © Michelle Cowles 2025
You can also find me at www.michellecowles.com
Find earlier articles in the Power of Being Experiment here:
Disclaimer: The information on this page is general, lifestyle information and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If this article raises mental health issues, please contact your General Practitioner, mental health worker, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 (Australia) OR find support by country at www.helpguide.org.
Michelle I thank you for this program. The step by step helps me so much to make small progress and keeps me more on track. It’s like it gives a simple path of growth through so much information overload and noise.
Last week was a turning point for me already in realizing that I didn’t put the same value on beingness as I did on the doing. I’m shifting that perspective and this past week have found more stillness, silence and beingness has come out of it. 🙏💜
What has resonated with me with this post is where the criticism and judgement came from and how to start to release it from my life.
Initially I’m noticing that my mother and her lineage judged based on religion and beliefs while my dad and his lineage judged based on culture and wealth. Wow! So many standards to meet and so many bars that are way too high to reach. How many of those have I taken on and passed on!!
How much pressure we therefore put on ourselves to be a certain way to be good enough/loved/accepted the list goes on….
How much more silence, stillness and beingness we can experience with a few less bars to reach for!
Thanks Michelle 💜🙏
Self Compassion is the secret to life! IMO, I’m glad to find your series. Love it! As an empath myself this article hit me!