What is Self-Compassion?
Self-compassion involves treating yourself the way you would treat a good friend who is having a hard time—even if your friend blew it, is feeling inadequate, or is just facing a tough challenge in life.
It’s about valuing yourself as a human being who is worthy of love and respect. And at a deeper level, self-compassion involves three core elements that we draw upon when we are in pain: self-kindness, understanding of our common humanity (the recognition that everyone makes mistakes and feels pain), and mindfulness.
Why Does Self-Compassion Matter?
An abundance of research into self-compassion over the last decade has shown its benefits for well-being.
Individuals who are more self-compassionate tend to have greater happiness, life satisfaction and motivation, better relationships and physical health, and less anxiety and depression. They also have the emotional resilience needed to cope with stressful life events such as a break-up, health crises, and academic failure.
How to Cultivate Your Self-Compassion.
To help you cultivate your self-compassion, download the “Balanced Self-Compassion” exercise to get started. This simple exercise takes 10-minutes or less and can get you started on making peace with your inner-critic and boost your mental health and life satisfaction.