What does self-compassion mean to you?
How do you honour your needs to keep moving forward?
In times where things feel overwhelming, what do you do?
When everything seems like it’s a priority and you don’t feel like you’re getting enough done?
How do you take a mental time out to look after yourself? Here are 3 tips to help you practice self-compassion:
Honour and explore what works for you to truly relax.
Think about ways that allow every fibre of your being to let go and relax. Some people prefer to exercise and take a high intensity class to release their stress, others like to take a walk on the beach or listen to classical music. The key is to find what works for you, as everyone is different. When I find my body bracing, it’s a sign for me to pivot, let go and find another way.
How do you listen to what your body is telling you? Are there minor aches and pains in your body that you have been neglecting?
2. Shift to cultivate kindness.
Pause a moment and ask yourself, “Would you treat yourself the same way that you would treat your best friend?”
What are ways that you can be more kind to yourself throughout the day? Can you ask for more support? Going deeper, can you allow yourself the permission to receive help? Being kind to yourself can mean a number of different things. Think about all your items on your daily to-do list, how many of these items directly benefit you? If most of the items on your list are for other people, then perhaps have a look at your list to balance it out.
3. Take a close look at your inner critic.
What are the things that you’re saying to yourself on a daily basis? By journaling in the morning and evening, I found a greater sense of self-awareness. I also found that I was asking myself the wrong questions.
Do you have feelings of not being enough? How can you shift your language to celebrate your wins instead of judging your failures?
I was thinking that I was the only one going through these feelings and then, I was reminded that we are all going through our own things.
This video by Brene Brown reminds us of the importance of talking about shame.
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path. Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.” https://christieinge.com/brene-brown-quotes/
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” http://mentalfloss.com/article/63389/roosevelts-man-arena
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Thanks as always, for taking the time to read my articles.
