Extending Compassion to Yourself

“Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. You may not be perfect, but you are all you’ve got to work with. The process of becoming who you will be begins first with the total acceptance of who you are.” ~Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

What is self-compassion? Self-compassion, simply defined, is compassion turned inward. It entails extending to yourself what you would like others to offer you. It means soothing and nurturing yourself, and turning toward suffering and shortcomings with an open and caring heart. It is the recognition that failure and imperfection are human conditions, which may be traits that make you so endearing to your loved ones, empowering you to view yourself through this same lens. It restores a wholeness and gives you the permission you have denied yourself to step into your power!

Self-compassion consists of three components: mindfulness (opening up to the present without judgment), common humanity (personal experiences are part of the broader human experience), and self-kindness (how we talk to ourselves).

How can you start cultivating self-compassion?

Practice this self-compassion meditation. https://youtu.be/wm1t5FyK5Ek

Acknowledge your pain or suffering and recognize that you are not alone in the experience.

Decorate your personal space with mantras and positive reinforcers.

As you move through these exercises, learn to really listen to yourself and to gently process your life experiences with loving kindness. This will allow you to attend to any spirit or heart wound and offer grace to yourself.

If you need assistance in developing self-compassion, I encourage you to schedule an appointment.