There. There. Sweetheart.

Spark #20 - Sundays on Sparked: Pause and Reset

Cara Bradley

Jan 19, 2025

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Sundays on Sparked: Pause and Reset

Weekdays are for action. Sundays are for slowing down.

There, there sweetheart.

I was the classic Type A—always striving, pushing, and judging myself. My body, my work, my leadership—nothing was off-limits.

The cycle was relentless: mess up, beat myself up, try harder.

When I first heard about loving-kindness meditation—“making friends” with yourself—I resisted. Self-kindness felt weak, and weakness didn’t fit my high-performance mindset.

But here’s the truth: self-judgment is toxic.

It drains your energy, stifles growth, and keeps you stuck.

Then my meditation teacher, Scott McBride, gave me a simple practice:

Pause when self-criticism rears its ugly head.
Place your hand on your heart (optional for the tough guys).
Say something kind, like “There, there, sweetheart,” or “You’ve got this.”
Repeat until you feel a shift.

I tried it after blurting out an awkward comment to a yoga teacher at my studio. I cringed all day, replaying it on a loop. Then I paused, put my hand on my heart, and whispered, “You’re doing your best.”

It wasn’t a magic fix, but it stopped the spiral. My shoulders relaxed. My breath slowed. I felt okay again.

This practice hasn’t made me weak—it’s made me real.

It’s opened my heart to the good in myself and others.

Try it. Pause. Hand on heart. Whisper, “There, there, sweetheart.”

This might be the start of a kinder, stronger you.

P.S. If this hit home please share it with a friend. It could help others find these Sparks ✨

Weekly Rewind! ✨

Each Sunday, I share a recap of the week's Sparks and a special audio message just for you. Today I’m also sharing a deeper dive into today’s loving kindness practice. Enjoy.