Self Compassion Exercises
Self Compassion Exercises
The Buddha once said,
“You could search the whole world over and not find anyone more deserving of your love and compassion than yourself.”
Many of us find it easier to feel compassion towards others than towards ourselves. But how can you extend compassion to others if you can’t extend it to yourself? What makes you so special that you’re excluded from your compassion?
“Finding the commitment to stop running from pain is a first step in cultivating compassion. Your willingness to turn towards suffering rather than away from it is the beginning of approaching the world with greater kindness and tenderness…. We are not creating suffering, only looking into it, and noticing it and being with it. By blocking it out, we block out so much else, the light of our soul and our very central-most self, for a start.”
Christina Feldman, Compassion.
This is the foundation of therapy.
Mindful Self Compassion
Rather than running from our pain, we must look into it and tend to it. This is how we release ourselves from it. Slowing down and showing yourself compassion in the moment (especially if you feel overwhelmed, uncertain or unregulated) resembles moments you might have with a therapist as you come across certain pain points. Self compassion is useful to stance in moments where emotional pain or difficulty arises.
Self Compassion Exercises: 10 Ways to Practice Self Compassion
Why Practice Self Compassion?
Self compassion is a proven factor in preventing depression and improving resilience. Life is tough enough, so give yourself the kindness of being kind to you. For many therapists, compassion, and a client internalising that compassion in self compassion, is one part of the therapeutic process.
If you aren’t used to compassion from others or yourself, notice resistance when showing self compassion, be curious about it. If you can explore and remove these blocks you’ll step into freedom (it is one of the tools we develop in the Therapy Toolbox course).
Think about your Self-Talk
If you wouldn’t say it to someone else, don’t say it to yourself either.
More Self Compassion Exercises
Self Compassion Exercises: 10 Ways to Practice Self Compassion
If you struggle with self kindness or self compassion, it is a big part of the Therapy Toolbox course, with 60+ lessons to help you feel calmer, brighter, stronger, happier.
You can also download this to get you started:
20 Life Changing Therapeutic Journaling Prompts.
I hope you will find lots of time for self compassion today!
