We often have impulsive thoughts of self judgment and criticism that are so quick and so sneaky that we don’t even realize we’ve been so hard on ourselves until we’re feeling quite miserable. Self-compassion requires practice : treating yourself with the same kindness, understanding, and support that you would offer a close friend. It involves acknowledging your struggles without judgment, recognizing that imperfection and suffering are universal aspects of the human experience, and responding to yourself with care rather than self-criticism.

Self-compassion has three core components:

1. Self-kindness – Being gentle and forgiving with yourself, especially during moments of failure or difficulty.

2. Common humanity – Understanding that everyone makes mistakes and experiences challenges, helping to reduce feelings of isolation.

3. Mindfulness – Being present with your emotions and experiences without suppressing or exaggerating them.

Practicing self-compassion fosters resilience, emotional well-being, and a greater capacity to handle life's challenges, while also reducing anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy. It’s a powerful tool for building a healthier, more positive relationship with yourself. A self-compassion practice can begin in so many ways.

One small, yet impactful, way is to put self-compassion into physical action. By combining gentle movement or touch with loving and kind thought, you can offer yourself a much needed moment of kindness (without anyone even noticing you are doing something REALLY big and REALLY important for yourself).

If you’ve ever been in a stressful meeting or about to take a difficulty test, this is the moment for self-compassion. Maybe you just had a difficult conversation with a co-worker, lost your cool with your child, or snapped at a friend - all of these rattle the nervous system and can flood us with critical, harsh thoughts. Move toward self-compassion. Pause. Breathe.

Try out some of the suggestions on the infographic! See how they feel for you! Notice and observe without any judgment or evaluation.