Unlocking Self-Compassion: Three Practical Paths to Inner Kindness

October 10th is World Mental Health Day and we wanted to share a few tips on practicing self-compassion. In a world where we take care of our loved ones and community, we often forget to pour that same love into ourselves. We feel compassion towards others through empathy, noticing and acknowledging their feelings, being kind and recognizing common humanity. 

Self-compassion is acting the same way toward yourself. By extending the same kindness and understanding to ourselves as we would to a friend, we can improve our overall well-being and navigate life’s challenges with greater ease. 

Here are three ways to incorporate self-compassion into your daily routine:  

1. Self-Kindness: Being kind and understanding toward ourselves in times when we feel inadequate. Replace harsh language with kind words and remind ourselves, it’s ok for things to not go according to plan. Self-compassionate people recognize that being imperfect and experiencing life difficulties is inevitable. So give yourself some grace and a hug – you’re doing your best! 
2. Act Like a Compassionate Friend: When negative thoughts start to cloud our minds, channel your compassionate friend. We always tend to give the best of ourselves to our loved ones when they are going through something. Channel that compassion towards yourself – what would you say to them if they were having an off day? 
3. Mindfulness: Mindfulness means being with things as they are in the present moment. By being mindful, we are aware and acknowledge our present situation. Being mindful gives us the grace to practice self-compassion opening up space for clarity. We can practice this a number of different ways. You can try a few minutes of purposeful movement, taking a few deep breaths, going for a walk, getting a massage, eating your favourite meal or even writing a letter to yourself. Taking a moment to pause and tune into the moment helps us determine our most effective response to how we’re feeling. 

Practicing self-compassion is a journey that takes time and effort, but the benefits are profound. It can lead to happiness, increased self-esteem, reduced stress, improved mental health, and more meaningful relationships. 

Remember, you deserve the same compassion and care you give to others. So be kind. To your community, to your loved ones and most importantly, to yourself.