What is Self-Compassion and why should I care?
Most people operate from the mindset that in order to meet their expectations for themselves, they must be critical of themselves. This is entirely false. Research done by Dr. Kristin Neff and her team tells us that self-compassion, more than self-esteem, is related to both better mental health and physical health outcomes.
Changing thought and behavioral patterns can be challenging due to subconsciously held beliefs and biases. You don’t have to do it alone. We can work together to help you change your relationship with yourself.
Research shows that people who engage in self-compassionate practice are more likely to:
feel happy and satisfied with their lives
have a stable sense of self-worth
be appreciative and satisfied with their bodies
demonstrate higher levels of emotional intelligence
be resilient in the fact of hardship
sleep well and have a stronger immune system
feel connected and authentic in their relationships
Self-compassion is simply compassion directed towards yourself. There are three main elements: mindfulness, common humanity, and kindness.
Mindfulness is a a practice in increased awareness. It strengthens our ability to bring awareness to our feelings, internal sensations, and thoughts. When we engage in a regular mindfulness practice, we also strengthen our ability to simply observe our pain rather than becoming entangled in it.
Common humanity encourages us to acknowledge the shared experience of being human. We are all flawed; we all make mistakes; and we all find ourselves in moments of suffering. In stark contrast to self-esteem, common humanity in self-compassion espouses equality and connection. The concept of common humanity frees us from shame and being alone in our pain.
Kindness is difficult for many of us to show towards ourselves. At our first attempt, self-compassion can feel narcissistic or selfish. This is because most of us have not been taught that showing ourselves kindness is as important as showing other’s kindness. When we show ourselves kindness, we allow ourselves to better respond to our needs, to soothe ourselves in suffering, and create the safety we need to make changes and grow.
You deserve kindness. You deserve to feel at home with yourself.
