Be Kind To Yourself: Practice Self-Compassion
Dec 22, 2021
Do you tend to criticize yourself? Do you beat yourself for your mistakes and punish yourself for failures? You are not alone but be aware, being too hard on yourself can hinder your performance and success. Practice self-compassion. According to Kristin Neff, Ph.D., a self-compassion researcher, self-compassion has three main components:
- Self-kindness - eliminate negative self-talk and self-criticism, use kinder, gentler words.
- Common humanity - acknowledge that suffering and struggles, and personal failure are universal experiences, you are not alone.
- Mindfulness - observe your negative emotions without over-focusing or suppressing them.
Self- Compassion
Benefit #1: Boosts Happiness
Research has shown that self-compassion is linked to happiness, optimism, wisdom, personal initiative, and curiosity
Benefit #2: Increases Motivation
Self-compassion can increase motivation to recover from failure. Honoring your struggles and practicing self-compassion after failure releases chemicals in the brain that can increase your motivation.
Benefit #3: Enhances Self-Worth
Self-compassion comes from within, compared to high self-esteem which often depends on external circumstances and social comparisons. Self-compassion allows you to continue feeling good despite instances of failure, perceived inadequacy, and imperfection.
