The First Reckoning
There comes a moment when the war inside can’t be ignored anymore. We hit a wall, burn out, or collapse under the weight of trying to hold it all together. This painful moment is what I call The First Reckoning.
In this episode of The Inner War: The Path to Self-Compassion, Gary explores what the First Reckoning really is, why it’s so painful, and how it can either trap us in despair or open the door to healing.
🌱 In this episode you’ll learn:
Why the First Reckoning feels like collapse — and why that isn’t failure.
How it unmasks the survival strategies of shame, perfectionism, and the Inner Critic.
Why knowing better without moving forward can actually inflame the Inner War and feed the shame cycle.
How the First Reckoning is not the end, but the portal through which we finally meet ourselves with kindness.
Why self-compassion is the key to moving through the Reckoning into something new.
✨ Self-Compassion Project (Active Practice):Think of a moment when you felt like you “hit a wall.” Instead of judging yourself, pause and say:“This was my First Reckoning. It wasn’t weakness. It was a sign I had carried too much for too long.”
Then place your hand on your chest and add:“It’s okay that I couldn’t hold it all. May I give myself compassion for reaching my limit.”
Reflection Question:Where in your life are you beginning to feel the weight of a First Reckoning? And if you saw it not as failure, but as awakening, how might that shift your perspective?
