Personal Relationship Counseling & Consulting | Alpharetta, GA | 30009

Eddie Reece in Alpharetta, GA specialized in helping individuals improve their daily relationships in work, life and love. Sign up today

Text Size:+-
Eddie Reece, MS, LPC, BC-TMH
A Concierge Counseling Practice
(770) 671-1814 | eddie@eddiereece.com
  • Home
  • Find Relief
    • Relationship Struggles?
    • Stress & Anxiety?
    • Mid or 3/4 Life Crisis?
    • Feeling Down?
    • Stuck in Grief or Loss?
    • Improve Your Sex Life
    • My Concierge Services
    • Business Consulting
    • Sports Enhancement
    • Celebrity, High Profile Client?
    • Speaking Engagements
  • Contact Eddie
  • Location, Fees & Insurance
  • About Eddie
    • Learn More About Me
    • Testimonials
  • Reviews
    • Leave A Review
  • Resources
    • Helpful Books & DVD’s
    • Articles
    • Community Resources
    • Support Groups
  • Blog

3 Ways to Cultivate More Self-Compassion

Posted on 12.4.17

Many people are brought up to always be kind to others. But how many of us were taught to be kind to ourselves? Self-compassion, or self-love, can often seem like a foreign concept, particularly to those raised in an abusive or unloving home.

Self- compassion and self-love are not to be confused with arrogance or conceit, which are usually indicators of a lack of self-love. Self-compassion has nothing to do with faux superiority and everything to do with being kind and gentle with oneself. It allows us to treat ourselves as we do our greatest loved ones. Instead of harshly judging ourselves for any personal shortcomings, we can instead give ourselves unconditional love and acceptance.

Why is Self-Compassion Important?

Over the last decade, research has shown a correlation between self-compassion and overall psychological well-being. Self-compassion helps us recognize the difference between making a bad choice and being a bad person. It also helps us have greater connections with others and less depression, anxiety, and fear of failure.

A lack of self-compassion can take a toll on our personal and romantic relationships. How we treat ourselves is typically an indicator of how we let others treat us. The less love and compassion we have for ourselves the more likely we end up in abusive and dysfunctional relationships. But, when we have self-compassion, we are less likely to depend on others to validate our self-worth or “complete us.”

Here are 3 ways you can begin practicing self-compassion:

1. Treat Yourself as You Would a Small Child

You would never treat a small child the way you may sometimes treat yourself. You wouldn’t call a child “stupid” for making a poor decision. And you certainly wouldn’t tell them they are unlovable and “will wind up alone forever.”

It may be hard treating yourself with such kindness in the beginning because you are not used to it. But in those moments, decide to treat yourself as you would a child and much progress will be made.

2. Practice Mindfulness

Self-criticism is a mental habit. In order to replace self-criticism with self-compassion, we must practice mindfulness.

When you find yourself caught up in that negative noise and mind chatter, stop, take a deep breath, and refocus your thoughts on something more positive about yourself. What qualities do you like about yourself? What have you done recently that you feel proud about? It can be anything, “I am always on time,” or, “I made the cashier smile.”

When you do find yourself having negative thoughts, DO NOT chastise yourself for having them. Thank those negative thoughts and tell them you no longer need them, then send them on their way to make room for positivity.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Be Human

At the end of the day, self-compassion is about being okay with our own humanity. It’s important to recognize that being human means being flawed, and that’s okay. You and the rest of the world have imperfections in common.

Give yourself permission to make mistakes and accept yourself, warts and all. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how much lighter and happier you will feel.

While it’s incredibly important to learn self-compassion, it’s not always easy cultivating new thought and behavioral patterns on your own. A therapist can give you the support, encouragement and guidance you need to help you make these positive changes in your life.

If you or a loved one has struggled with self-compassion and would like to speak with someone, please give me a call. Let’s discuss how I may best be able to help.

Categories: Self-Esteem

Leave a Comment Cancel

List of Posts

  • What is Positive Parenting?
  • How Counseling Can Help You Reach Your Goals in the New Year
  • How Sex Therapy Can Lead to More Intimacy
  • Understanding Sexual Desire Issues
  • Does Online Couple’s Therapy Work?
  • Communication Tips for Couples in Recovery
  • Therapy vs. Antidepressants – Which One is Better?
  • Can Long-Term Isolation Lead to an Addiction?
  • What is Therapeutic Mediation?
  • The Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Families
  • Benefits of Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Anxiety
  • Mental Health Therapy for Frontline Workers
  • Are You Doing Self-Care All Wrong?
  • Fighting Loneliness During Quarantine
  • Is it Safe to Go Back to In-Person Therapy Sessions?
  • 5 Strategies to Calm Your Anxiety Quickly
  • The Best Medicine is a Treadmill: How Daily Exercise Can Treat Depression
  • The Amazing Benefits of Meditation
  • Loss of Independence in Old Age
  • Is Telehealth the Future of Therapy?
  • Coping with Working from Home During COVID-19
  • How to Cope with the Stress and Anxiety Caused by COVID-19
  • Can Marriage Counseling Really Help Your Relationship?
  • Why Every Man Should See a Therapist
  • 5 Signs of Childhood Emotional Neglect
  • 5 Warning Signs It’s Time to Try Couples Counseling
  • Is Social Media Bad for Your Mental Health?
  • 3 Steps to Self-Compassion
  • Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • How to Set Healthy Boundaries
  • 5 Ways to Effectively Manage Anxiety
  • When is the Right Time to Try Couple’s Counseling?
  • Why Did I Feel Fine Yesterday? The Causes of Depression
  • How to Ask for Help in Times of Need
  • Skip the Ice Cream: Here’s A Better Post-Breakup Plan
  • 5 Subtle Exercises to Calm Anxiety in Public
  • Ending a Casual Relationship
  • What Is An Extroverted-Introvert – And Are YOU One?
  • 4 Ways to Improve Communication in Your Relationship
  • 4 Ways to Reduce Anxiety on Your Coffee Break
  • 10 Signs You Might Be a “Highly Sensitive Person”
  • 10 Signs You’re Addicted to Working
  • Is My Anger Normal, Or Should I Seek Help?
  • How to Tell Your Partner About Your Past Sexual Abuse
  • You Are Not Alone: Finding Support as a Male Sexual Abuse Survivor
  • What is Trauma and What Causes it?
  • Why Meditation Works Well with Faith
  • Is Casual Sex Good or Bad for Your Mental Health?
  • 5 Daily Self-Care Exercises for Survivors of Abuse
  • How to Fit Romance Back into Your Scheduled Sex Life

Here's my blog post, "What is Love?" https://t.co/wTrmpxP9my Define love wrong & your relationships will be a struggle #rethinklove&romance

— Eddie Reece, MS, LPC (@EddieReeceLPC) April 1, 2016

Daniel is a Premium WordPress Theme Built on Genesis

Getting Along | A WEBSITE BY BRIGHTER VISION | Privacy Policy