The Habit of Practicing Self-Compassion and Self-Love
Are you someone who doesn't like to be alone and finds solace in socializing? Do you always feel a little out of place or lonely when you're spending time with the same people over and over again? If so, then maybe it's time to explore the habit of practicing self-compassion and self-love.
Self-compassion is about having compassion for yourself. It's not about feeling sorry for yourself, but rather being kind towards your own humanity. In turn, this can help increase your sense of worthiness or confidence.
Self-love is about valuing yourself and being grateful for the blessings you have (even if they're small). It's about believing in your own worth and wondering, "If not me, who?" You are unique. And as a result, so is your story.
Self-compassion gives you the ability to be more forgiving of others. It helps you to see that there's always a reason behind someone's actions or behavior. And when you feel self-compassion towards yourself, it makes it easier to extend this feeling of kindness towards others.
For example, a recent study done by Bethany Braswell and Julie Norem found that the more self-compassion you feel towards other people, the more likely you are to be generous or charitable towards them.
When we're kind to ourselves, it's easier to act kindly toward others. And when we're kind to others, we're more likely to be kind to ourselves. While self-love is not so easily defined, it's about being grateful for all of your blessings while maintaining responsibility for how you choose to respond to your life experiences.
The number one reason why we fail at self-compassion is because we don't recognize the importance of caring for our own mental health too. It's so easy to put everyone else first and neglect ourselves. And just like any other part of our body, when we don't take care of ourselves, it leads to all kinds of problems.
You need to learn how to love yourself, even if you make mistakes. No one is perfect. If you can love yourself despite the fact that you're human, that's when you'll really be able to feel self-compassion and self-love for who you are and appreciate all that you do have.
You deserve to show yourself the same kindness that you would give to a friend. You deserve to be your own best friend. And as best friends do, it's important to give yourself some love and compassion when you need it the most. If you can treat your own wounds and take care of your own needs, you'll find that you can be better equipped to care for the needs of others too.
It's human nature to feel a sense of separation from others and ourselves. But once we learn how to accept our own humanity, we can begin to experience true self-compassion and self-love for who we are. And as a result, we'll be able to let go of the judgment that others have against us or ourselves.
In order for you to move through your life, you need to feel happy about what you've already done. And there's no better time to practice self-compassion and self-love than right now in the midst of your journey. You can start by telling yourself: "I love myself." And it doesn't have to be said out loud. You can say it to yourself inside your head just as much as you would if you were sharing it with someone else.
You are brave, kind and compassionate. You have so much to offer the world, and yet you're too embarrassed to show it. Give yourself some self-love. Let yourself be who you are. And remember: everyone deserves compassion and kindness. When you can treat yourself with kindness and compassion, that's when your life will truly begin to change for the better.
On the next page of this article, I'm going to share two more tips for practicing self-compassion and self-love (along with a poem), but first let me explain why self-acceptance is so important in order for you to feel joy in your everyday living. Perhaps you've already felt this joy before or maybe not at all...
This joy is something that you'll want to hold onto because it's a sign that you're truly living, growing, and becoming the best version of yourself.
What if you could appreciate this moment for what it is? This is a chance for you to make your life easier. It's a chance to make your situation better. And sometimes all it takes is some self-compassion and self-love in order for us to feel like we can accomplish our goals.
You cannot take action unless you first learn how to love yourself and have self-acceptance; realizing what your passions are will allow you to fall in love with your life again rather than falling into disappointment.
Three Things To Practice Beginner Level Self-Compassion & Self-Love 1. "I love myself" (You can say it out loud or you can say it to yourself inside your head. You don't have to say it for everyone to hear.) 2. Breathe 3. Speak from a place of kindness rather than judgment (For example, "I forgive myself for not being perfect" or "I love myself because I'm human and I can't help making mistakes" - Click here to read more on the importance of self-forgiveness.)
By: Jessica Ortner
Tune in to hear my new podcast with Oprah and Michael Beckwith, The Energy by Oprah Network , starting Sunday November 6th! I would love to hear your comments below!
Now get out there and live your best life & enjoy the journey! ~Jessica Ortner P.S. Here's a poem I wrote about self-compassion and self-love if you would like to share it with someone:
It all begins with love, and to love yourself is the key.
It's time for you to let go of the other who is lost inside of you.
You need to let go of the past and all of your regrets.
You need to find the strength within yourself that can heal you when you're in pain.
Self-love is based on real love, not just romantic feelings or lust. It's a feeling that will give your soul some joy and happiness when you're giving it back to yourself, even though it may feel uncomfortable at first.
Conclusion: The need and importance of self-compassion and self-love has been proven over and over again by leading experts in the field (Harvard Psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff). It is the primary ingredient that will help you to live a more fulfilling life, directly leading to greater health, happiness, creativity and productivity. After all, who doesn't want that? If you enjoyed this article please share it with your friends! P.P.S If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them in the comment section below! P.P.P.