“Many people at first resist the idea of exchanging self-criticism for self-compassion, fearing doing so will make them “lazy”, “idle” or “indulgent”. Despite misperceptions, self-compassion is none of the above. It takes work and effort to be self-compassionate and cultivating these mind states actually makes us less self-absorbed than does self-criticism. Further, self-criticism does not help us to achieve our goals or make us become better human beings in any sense. Self-compassion, on the other hand, has been scientifically linked to increased happiness and life-satisfaction, increased health behaviors (such as eating well and exercising), and a reduced risk for anxiety and depressive disorders.
There are many ways to turn down the volume on self-criticism and become better versed in self-compassion. The foundation for many of these exercises is a type of awareness called “mindfulness”. It is important to develop mindful awareness because without it we simply go though life on automatic pilot, repeating the same old patterns of self-criticism and resolving to do better next time. Developing a mindfulness practice takes time and patience, but the payoff is multifold.”
Wishing you many opportunities to practice compassion for yourself and others
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