Self-compassion is a construct drawn from the Buddhist theory that you must “care about yourself before you can really care about other people”. Self-compassion involves treating ourselves with the same level of support and understanding that we would treat a loved one.
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Self-compassion in Practice
When you are in a difficult situation, pause and empathize with your situation and recognize how you’re feeling, try being kind to yourself in the moment and be compassionate in the moment as well. Think about how you react when a friend of yours is going through a tough time. You might get them flowers or try to spend time with them. Take the same steps with yourself. Love and care for yourself the way you love and care for others.
Forgiveness and Self-compassion
Forgiveness and self-compassion go hand-in-hand. We all make mistakes and do things we are not proud of and it is often hard to forgive ourselves for past mistakes. What's weird is how quick we can forgive other people but when we hurt ourselves, we beat ourselves up about it for an extended amount of time. This can negatively affect the way we love and see ourselves. Think of mistakes as opportunities to learn.
I hope this article made you rethink the way you treat yourself. ❤