An opportunity for self-compassion

11 May 2020

During this unprecedented time that has been fraught with uncertainty and fear, you have also been faced with an increasing variety of demands. Perhaps you are now working from home, parenting and delivering school curriculum to your kids or maybe you are now unemployed, managing financial strain and struggling to create structure and routine in your days. Navigating all of these changes and being faced with new demands can be a breeding ground for self-criticism. This presents a great opportunity to shift away from negative self-talk and begin practicing self-compassion. 

Self-compassion is acknowledging that you are suffering in someway and showing yourself comfort and care in response to this. A professor at the University of Austin, Kristin Neff, who specializes in this area, says that compassion for oneself is no different than having compassion for others. She notes that to have compassion for others you acknowledge that suffering is a shared human experience, feel moved by others hardships and as a result show care and concern for them.

In order to begin practicing self-compassion it is first helpful to notice when you are being hard on yourself. Once you become more aware of that internal critical voice or judgemental dialogue, you can begin to shift towards a kinder and more gentle approach to yourself and the situation.  You can ask yourself ‘what would I say to a friend if they shared this with me?’. You can also choose to take a moment for deep breathing and breath in kindness and love and breath out negativity and criticism. Kristin Neff also speaks about practicing self-compassion with supportive touch which can help you feel calm, cared for and safe. She suggests placing your hand on your heart and tuning into the natural rising and falling of your chest as you breath in and out. If you are interested in exploring self-compassion further, visit this link to Kristin Neff’s website, https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/. A small shift towards caring for yourself in a more kind and gentle way can be the change that you need to help you get through this difficult time. 

If you would like to discuss these ideas further or feel that you are in need of more support, please call the clinic or head online to book a complimentary appointment with me. I will be returning from maternity leave on June 2nd.

All the best,
Alicia