“Instead of anxiety and fear,
“Practice of choosing today’s me”

A small story of action that transformed anxiety and fear into hope.
How to live as your true self without hiding your feelings
Today, too, practice embracing yourself tenderly

"Today, I'm Embracing Myself Tenderly" is an essay in which the author, who lost herself in the belief that she had to be perfect to be loved, records the process of reconnecting with herself through expressing her emotions and continuing small actions.
Even though I smiled in front of others, I was always anxious inside and hid my feelings for fear of making mistakes.
But I confess that the moment I found the courage to say, “I’m okay,” my life began to change.
The realization I gained from revealing my wounds and fears and accepting myself as I am was simple but powerful.
Real change begins not with perfection, but with acknowledging our imperfections.

This realization is not limited to the stories in the book.
A '30-day practice note' is included so that readers can put it into practice themselves.
By spending 10 minutes a day gently facing your own heart and saying, “It’s okay,” you can develop the habit of respecting and accepting your emotions.

"Today, too, you are embracing me tenderly" is a gentle comfort and a friendly guide for those who want to get back on their feet even in the midst of anxiety and fear.
The moment you open the book, you will realize that “I am enough just as I am.”

The false me is lonely.
I need to call myself real and live my life.
Only when we accept our true selves can we truly connect with others.
Now, stop hiding yourself and start living as the main character of your own life.
--- From "I, Trapped in a False Life"

I lived my life focusing only on how others treated me.
But now I know.
It was ultimately my greed that tried to control how the other person treated me and whether they liked or disliked me through my false actions.
Trying to control the other person's reaction while hiding my feelings was ultimately a very self-centered behavior driven by a desire to be loved.
--- From "The Greed That Prevented Me From Seeing My Real Self"

'It's okay, even if they hate me, that's just their choice.
If we keep telling ourselves, 'That doesn't define my existence,' we will become people who trust and respect ourselves more.
Confidence comes from respecting yourself for who you are.
The more courage I have to express myself, the clearer I can see myself.
--- From "Facing Myself as I Am"

As you begin to take action on things you've been hesitating to do for a long time, your anxiety will gradually fade and the belief that "I can change too" will take hold.
The inner freedom I feel at that time.
The joy that freedom brings is beyond words.
If I let go of my obsession with being a good person, someone who does well, and just start doing something, even if it's small, that small attempt will set me free.

--- From "The Path Opened by New Choices"