03/07/2025
If you find that you are really hard on yourself, you, like most people, can use a little more self-compassion in your life.
Having good self-compassion skills can set the stage for better health, relationships, and general well-being.
Research has also shown that having self-compassion can lower levels of anxiety and depression. Self-compassionate people recognize when they are suffering and are kind to themselves at these times, thereby lowering their own levels of related anxiety and depression.
Here are four ways to give your self-compassion skills a quick boost:
* Comfort your body. Eat something healthy. Lie down and rest. Take a walk. Anything you can do to improve how you feel physically gives you a dose of self-compassion.
* Write a letter to yourself. Think of a situation that caused you to feel pain (a breakup with a lover, a job loss, a poorly received presentation). Write a letter to yourself describing the situation, but without blaming anyone — including yourself. Use this exercise to nurture your feelings.
* Give yourself encouragement. Think of what you would say to a good friend if he or she was facing a difficult or stressful situation. Then, when you find yourself in this kind of situation, direct these compassionate responses toward yourself.
* Practice mindfulness. Even a quick exercise, such as meditating for a few minutes, can be a great way to nurture and accept ourselves when we are feeling low.
Cred: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/4-ways-to-boost-your-self-compassion
