“Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. We cannot nurture others from a dry well. We need to take care of our own needs first, so that we can give from our surplus, our abundance. When we nurture ourselves from a place of fullness, we feel renewed instead of taken advantage of”.
– Jennifer Louden
It is not unusual for people to have reservations about self-compassion. Common reservations often expressed include, “it sounds like a form of self-pity”, “it is weak”, “it is selfish and self-indulgent”, “it is a form of making excuses” and “it may undermine my motivation”.
The great news is there is robust and growing research which evidences quite the opposite!
Research has demonstrated that self-compassionate people are more likely to have:
- enhanced emotional wellbeing.
- reduced stress levels
- lower levels of anxiety and depression
- increased confidence
- improved life satisfaction
Self-compassionate people have also been shown to:
- engage in healthy self-care behaviours (eg eating well, increasing exercise, drinking less alcohol)
- be more caring in their relationships with others.
- be more able to collaborate and compromise, leading to more satisfying personal relationships.
- be better able to cope with life challenges.
The Power of Self Compassion, Kristin Neff:
To read more and for the latest research, click here…
“Feeling compassion for ourselves in no way releases us from responsibility for our actions. Rather, it releases us from the self-hatred that prevents us from responding to our life with clarity and balance.”
– Tara Brach
