Self-Compassion & Empathy
Self-Compassion and Empathy
If you’ve known me for a while, you’ll know that I believe in self – compassion and empathy.
In other words not beating ourselves up.
It’s an important topic because it’s so common for us all to do, without even being aware of it.
It can be easy to realise when we are judging others, but far more difficult to realise when we’re judging ourselves.
If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.— Jack Kornfield
If we’re hard on ourselves, critiquing or judging, we’re not really taking good care of ourselves. We’re not being supportive in a positive way. It usually leads to not feeling good about ourselves.
We want to thrive, feel our best self, in the best mental and emotional state of wellbeing, and in order to do that, we must cultivate self compassion and empathy.
An example I’ve used once before is, to ‘always speak to yourself how you would speak to a best friend’.
If it’s anything less than this, you know you’re being hard on yourself.
Talk to yourself as you would someone you love. — Brene Brown
Would you get frustrated a your best friend for eating chocolate, or not sticking to an exercise plan?
No.
You would just encourage them to start again tomorrow, and to no worry, that they are human, and you would understand your friend and their situation.
We must give ourselves the same compassion.
The reason we’re sometimes hard on ourselves or others, is because we have high standards and often if those are not met we are quick to point this out.
So instead of analyzing and critiquing we can just observe in a non- judgemental way. This empathetic, compassionate mindset helps us to keep a more positive, healthy mental and emotional state.
When we’re feeling better, we’re more likely feel like working out and maybe less likely to reach for chocolate as often, or whatever the example maybe.
When we feel good, we find life is usually better in general.
How often do you critique or judge yourself?
What can you now do instead?
Let me know in the comments below and if this was helpful for you.
Lots of love
Em xo
‘Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.’— Christopher Germer
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