Cultivating Self-Compassion

Following are 5 ways to begin practicing self-compassion and stop being so hard on yourself:
1. Treat yourself as you would a small child- consider what a child might want or need in a hurtful situation.
2. Practice mindfulness- When we find ourselves caught in a barrage of self-criticism, practice simple awareness of thoughts and feelings, particularly the “critical inner voice” — without trying to change anything; or just focus on your breath- a simple yet powerful Mindfulness Tool.
3. Remember that you’re not alone- to Feel is to be Human, and whatever you are going through is also being experienced by millions of others. Other also have similar/same feelings. If we can recognize our shared humanity — that not one of us is perfect — we can begin to feel more connected to others, with a sense that we’re all in this together.
4. Give yourself permission to be imperfect- we should never lose faith in our own potential just because we may fly off the deep end one night or stay in our apartment all weekend.
5. Work with a supportive therapist or coach- it’s a sign of strength and self-compassion to ask for some help and guidance.