If you were to hear your good friend being critical of herself for a mistake she made, what would you tell her? Most likely, you would tell her she was too hard on herself. You might also remind her of why she is a wonderful person. You would do this because you know people are not defined by one mistake, action, or imperfection. This is called compassion. And yet, while we often treat others compassionately, when it comes to ourselves, we do the exact opposite. We become our own worst critics and often set unrealistic expectations that we wouldn’t place on anyone else. Self-compassion requires a combination of self-kindness, awareness that many others have had similar experiences, and mindfulness in recognizing and accepting one’s negative emotions in a balanced way. Start small by choosing one of the three requirements to start with as you begin your self-compassion practice.

Brent Tocher, chooseauthenticity.ca