The art of self-compassion
It happened. What can I say, I’m human?
I missed a day in my writing challenge.
But now it’s out there and behind us.
And while I’d normally beat myself up about it and maybe even give up all together, the words “never miss twice” have never rung truer. Here’s to that!
With this in mind — and because it’s International Friendship Day — this one is a reminder of that one friend whom we often overlook: ourselves.
With everything that’s happening in the world, and how that translates into the world of work (where it’s a lot more difficult to switch off and disconnect), now’s the time for self-compassion.
What is self-compassion, you say?
Self-compassion means being gentle, kind and understanding with yourself; accepting that you are not perfect; and understanding that there is potential for learning and growth in every mistake you make (Neff, 2003).
It’s not the same as selfishness, but a nice analogy is to when flight attendants tell you to put on the mask and then to help others. If we are not taking care of ourselves first, how can we take care of those around us?
Easier said than done, but doable when we break it down.
My favorite way to build my self-compassion muscles
Gratitude. Every time I feel myself ruminating or a spiral starting, I pause and go back to gratitude. What am I grateful for today?
I’ve written about it before, but it keeps coming back. And I can honestly say, it’s come to the rescue on plenty of occasions — I can’t stop recommending it!
