Are you looking out for you?
Something I’ve noticed over the last few years through my work with clients and from what I’ve noticed in my personal life is that self-compassion does not come easily to everyone. Not everyone was shown a model for what self-compassion actually looks like in practice and really weren’t taught this vital information in school.
I often think about the fact that our relationship with ourselves is the longest relationship we will ever have. When we’re going through a hard time, we need to be there for ourselves more than ever. I’m not just talking about basic self-care, I’m talking about how we relate to ourselves and how we treat ourselves when we’re struggling.
With that said, here are 4 ways that you can practice self-compassion when life feels extra challenging. These ideas are simple, but I promise will go a long way:
Lower your expectations of yourself. It’s okay if you can’t operate at 100% right now. Something in your life may have to give and that’s okay and it’s probably necessary. Be realistic with yourself and kind with yourself.
Ask yourself what you need right now. Maybe that’s a hug, maybe it’s a phone call, maybe it’s a comforting TV show, maybe it’s a walk, a boundary, a break, a nap. Ask and honour those needs.
Allow people in. Sometimes this will look like answering the question “how are you” honestly or it may look like going out of our way to share with someone we trust that we’re having a challenging time. Even just having one person in your corner can make a world of a difference.
Acknowledging how you feel without judgment. Sometimes we don’t need a solution, we just need to feel seen. we forget to just “see” and acknowledge ourselves.
What else would you add to this list?
