I came across this term for the first time during my Happiness Course in Coursera. It set my thoughts rolling and I couldn’t resist penning it down. Let me share them with you.
What is Self Compassion?
You are aware of compassion, but what about self compassion?
It means to be compassionate with yourself, especially in tough times.
Though it sounds crazy and trivial, it is often overlooked. We are okay to hurt ourselves more but when it comes to others, we are more compassionate. Most of us come from a culture where being self-centered isn’t appreciated. This extends to the point where we consistently put our body and mind into harsh situations and do nothing about it. Believe me, it is not sustainable.
How to be self compassionate?
It is quite simple. When you encounter a failure or in some tough situation, take a step back.
Consider the victim to be your spouse, kid or a close friend. What would you do? How compassionate would you be with that person?
Now extend the same treatment to yourself. Don’t let your fear of being self-centered come in the way. Pat your mental back, say yourself encouraging words and treat yourself if needed.
It is always good to have someone be compassionate to us. But having this tendency within our mind goes a long way towards happiness.
What do you think?
Image credit: Flickr creative commons by Philip Dean
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