Gentle and Kind

Music has been a significant part of my life. But my emphasis has been mostly on organizing, performing, and directing. In recent years, I’ve been able to appreciate music for how it can influence me, personally. So I’m now more aware of how musical messages can bless and inspire me. 

For example, I have a lot of the hymns in our church hymnbook memorized. So, for most of my life, I could potentially sing them mindlessly, almost like reciting the ABCs, and wouldn’t even need to open the hymnbook while singing them. Some time ago I began opening to the hymns (especially the sacrament hymns) while singing, even though I “know” the songs. This is so that I can see the lyrics and better internalize them. 

The messages of two songs have helped me deal with my perfectionism in healthier ways. 

Michael McLean’s Gentle helps me slow down a bit and not need to be in accomplishment mode so much. I’ll include the lyrics here, in case you want to read along while listening to it. 

Like a gentle wind can blow the clouds from the sky, 
Like a gentle touch can ease the pain of goodbye, 
Like a gentle smile embraces empty souls in lonely places,
We can be more gentle with ourselves. 

Like the friend who gently builds us up when we’re down, 
Like a gentle kiss can turn our world all around. 
We’ve been hurt by others often, and we’ve forgiven and we’ve forgotten.
We can be that gentle with ourselves. 

Life can be hard but we need not be 
So hard on ourselves, if we’ll just see…
Like the Shepherd leads His flock with gentle commands, 
With His gentle voice that only our hearts can understand, 

One thing we can know for certain, He has borne the awful burdens 
So we can be gentle with ourselves. 
One thing that I know for certain: He will bear my every burden, 
So I can be gentle with myself. 

Andrew Peterson’s Be Kind to Yourself has a similar message which can be really helpful in dealing with perfectionist thinking. I love how he’s singing it to his daughter in this video. 

You got all that emotion that’s heaving like an ocean
And you’re drowning in a deep, dark well
I can hear it in your voice that if you only had a choice
You would rather be anyone else

I love you just the way that you are
I love the way He made your precious heart

Be kind to yourself
Be kind to yourself

I know it’s hard to hear it when that anger in your spirit
Is pointed like an arrow at your chest
When the voices in your mind are anything but kind
And you can’t believe your Father knows best

I love you just the way that you are
I love the way He’s shaping your heart

Be kind to yourself
Be kind to yourself

How does it end when the war that you’re in
Is just you against you against you
Gotta learn to love, learn to love
Learn to love your enemies too

You can’t expect to be perfect
It’s a fight you’ve gotta forfeit
You belong to me whatever you do
So lay down your weapon, darling
Take a deep breath and believe that I love you

Be kind to yourself
Be kind to yourself
Be kind to yourself

To be continued . . . with Part 91