Earlier this year, I meditated on how I could give back to the world in a way that would be fun and interesting to create, but also deeply impactful and broadly accessible to people. Very quickly, the idea for a smart phone app started to coalesce in my mind. I could see icons, screens, and the way people would interact with the app, all in service of developing more self-compassion and kindness.

I know from my own journey that developing the capacity for self-love is the path to deeper happiness. When we learn to really hear and see all the aspects of ourselves with kindness, healing can finally begin. Our perspectives shift. Many of our needs start to feel met. And, at the same time, learning to forgive ourselves, rather than judging ourselves, and learning to give ourselves what we need, rather than waiting for others to give it to us, is the basis for true empowerment.

So much has unfolded since I even conceptualized this app: the tragic shootings of so many unarmed black men and women across the US, the countless deaths of Syrians at home or trying to flee, and one of the most lethal bombings ever in Iraq, among many other heart-breaking happenings. It’s hard to know what to do or how to help. But the one way I know we can help is by being kind and compassionate to ourselves first, because that amplifies our compassion for others, and that leads to compassionate action. And this is what will make the world a better place! Read the whole story.