Article August 10, 1968 Issue

"Be kind to yourself"

JOAN BARTLETT

When I was a young student of singing, at times downcast by my lack of achievement, I was always encouraged by the wise counsel of the Christian Scientist who was my voice teacher. She would say gently, "Be kind to yourself." This loving reminder to stop being discouraged has been a frequent help during subsequent years. It taught me to remember that patient practice and keeping one's high goal constantly in thought bring achievement progressively nearer to perfection.

Since those times I have often paused and remembered that admonition. Sometimes when I have been working out a problem in Christian Science with slow or disappointing results, it has brought me relief from a sense of labor, inadequacy, and self-condemnation. In a greater measure I have been able to regard myself, as I should another in a similar situation, with compassion and loving encouragement.

Sometime we shall be able to approximate much more nearly the speed and completeness of the healing and regenerating work of Christ Jesus, our Way-shower. Until then dissatisfaction with our present standards of attainment in the demonstration of is inevitable and even salutary, for it often spurs us on to more earnest efforts to improve; but these efforts need not be burdensome or labored. "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light,"^{Matt. 11:30;} said our encouraging Master.