4 Ways To Practice Self-Compassion On A Daily Basis

“To thine own self be true”- Shakespeare

When you hear this quote what is the first thing you think of? 

The first thing I think of is how to be true to myself. This means how do I show up for myself on the daily! Cultivating self-compassion can change your life and the lives of those you engage with on a daily basis. Self-Compassion has the ability to help you in not just your personal life but also your work life, according to a study by the Harvard Business Review. The same study found, self-compassion is a skill that when practiced can be strengthened in your life.

“With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend”- Dr. Kristin Neff

“Self-compassion consists of three core components, first, self-kindness, when we are gentle and understanding with ourselves rather than harshly critical. Second, common humanity, feeling connected with others in the experience of life rather than feeling isolated and alienated by our suffering. Third, mindfulness, that we hold our experience in balanced awareness, rather than ignoring our pain or exaggerating it.” – As described by Dr. Kristin Neff, pioneering self-compassion researcher and author. Her book Self-Compassion: The Power of Being Kind to Yourself, is an Amazon and New York Times Bestseller.

Studies have shown that self-compassion has the ability to act as a shield against internalizing negative stigmas. According to psychologist Rami Nijjar, of Resilience Psychotherapy, self-compassion can be difficult for those who grew up in households where their parents didn’t practice compassion with themselves or to those around them. 

Some benefits of practicing self-compassion are lower stress levels, resilience, growth mindset and increased productivity.

Try these four tips to practice self-compassion:

Self forgiveness is an essential part of the journey. We tend to be more critical of ourselves than we are of others. We also tend to take things personally when we should allow them to roll off our backs. According to Harvard Health, forgiving yourself can set the stage for better health.

We will make mistakes and that is ok. Grace gives you permission to be imperfect and not think it is the end of the world. You should trust that you have done your best in every situation.

Getting down on yourself not only makes you feel bad, but it also changes your brain functions. It can also lead to mental health issues according to a 2013 research article. Negative self- talk leads to depression, low self- esteem, and stops you from seeing the bigger picture. By eliminating negative self-talk, you open the door to a world of possibilities. Our words have creative power. When we put words in the atmosphere that which we do not desire to happen, we bring that thing to us per the law of attraction.

When you practice being present you give yourself moments that matter. Being able to disconnect from the internet gives you time and attention to focus on the things that matter most to you. You also gain the ability to make stronger one on one connections.

This is key! If you wouldn’t do it to a child or someone else don’t do it to yourself. For those of us who are religious, the bible speaks of loving your neighbor as yourself, yet you cannot do so if you do not love you (Mark 12:31). The more self-compassion you give yourself you will then be able to give to others without even thinking about it.

Getting down on yourself not only makes you feel bad, but it also changes your brain functions. It can also lead to mental health issues according to a 2013 research article. Negative self- talk leads to depression, low self- esteem, and stops you from seeing the bigger picture. By eliminating negative self-talk, you open the door to a world of possibilities. Our words have creative power. When we put words in the atmosphere that which we do not desire to happen, we bring that thing to us per the law of attraction.