Self-Compassion
Can you be a good friend to yourself?
Can you treat yourself the same way that someone who loves you or cares about you would treat you if they knew you were hurt or upset? For many of us, the answer is no.
The Good News
The good news is that we can train ourselves to be kind to ourselves through simple practices that take a few minutes a day. These practices can help us calm down when we are facing difficulty and stress. Three people have told me recently that they got off their high blood pressure medication after doing self-compassion practices.
Far from making us weak or letting ourselves off the hook, self-compassion can make us more resilient and better equipped to change unhealthy behaviors. It can make us happier, too. I know, I have experienced that!
I believe self-compassion can help us develop a more secure sense of self, more confidence that we can face the difficulty that comes our way, and help us develop more secure relationships. This has not been proven in research yet. I have experienced those things and many people I have worked with say the same. Them scientist folks better hurry and catch up!