We hear and talk a lot about self-care, the vital action of prioritising yourself and taking steps to set personal protective boundaries (you should); looking after your health, both mental and physical as if it matters most (it does), as well as making sure that you are not always last on your own list (you shouldn’t be). We know that bit… although we may not always commit to it as consistently as we should.
So, what makes self-care different from self-compassion? Well, self-compassion asks that you train that voice in your head, the one you hear more than any other, to be your ally rather than your enemy.
Think for a moment – who is your harshest critic? If we are honest, many of us would have to admit that it is ourselves. We would rarely tolerate others telling us that we are not good enough, that we don’t look right, that we are less than someone else, but many of us talk to ourselves this way in the secrecy of our own minds far too often. It can be a destructive habit and it’s time to stop letting ourselves get away with the negative internal noise.
If your friend was struggling with something, what would you say to encourage them and keep them going? If your friend was hurting, would you want them to feel weak, stupid or embarrassed when they ask for help? We need to aim be our own best friend, our own most supportive voice, and be on our own side.
The reality of being a human being is that the longest relationship you will ever have will be with yourself. So, try to love yourself a little better; show yourself the kindness and grace that you show to those you love. Let your inner voice be one not of self-criticism but one of self-compassion.
