How To Be More Compassionate With Yourself

Being compassionate is one of the best qualities you can have, especially in this day and age. Even the smallest act of kindness can make a world of difference as it helps us connect with others, nurturing our innate desire to assist others.

But, why is it so hard sometimes to be compassionate with ourselves?

Let’s be honest—self-compassion isn’t always easy. Many of us are our own toughest critics, setting high expectations and feeling frustrated when we fall short. Instead of offering ourselves kindness, we end up stuck in a cycle of self-criticism and doubt.

Getting out of this cycle is even more challenging. Even though we realize we’re a little too hard on ourselves, being understanding and compassionate in the face of difficulty can seem like the biggest hurdle to overcome.

This brings us to our main question - how to practice self-compassion?

Luckily, there are all kinds of ways to be compassionate with yourself! When you accept your flaws, be more forgiving toward yourself, and not be so self-critical – all of this counts as self-compassion.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best self-compassion exercises to help you become more forgiving and kinder to yourself. 

1. Practice Mindfulness

The reason why we’re so critical of ourselves sometimes is because we keep dwelling on the past. Not only that, but our past actions may have us feeling negatively, preventing us from self-compassion.

Luckily, there is an easy way to change this cycle. Instead of being so focused on the past and negative emotions, focus only on the present. Embrace the world around you exactly as it is, paying close attention to your thoughts and feelings. 

 Mindful self-compassion is all about being non-judgemental. Doing simple activities like focusing on your breath and doing a body scan can help you cultivate awareness.

2. Talk To Yourself As You Would A Friend 

Imagine that someone close to you is giving you some bad news about themselves.  

What’s the first thing you do? 

That’s right – you offer them compassion and understanding, which is exactly what they need at the given time. 

With that in mind, isn’t it high time for you to treat yourself in the same way?

Self-compassion is heavily centered around your inner dialogue. Although we’re prone to be judgmental and hard on ourselves, start talking to yourself as you would to a close friend. Use encouraging and positive words, and try to be as comforting as possible.

Changing your inner monologue may indeed take some time, but once you do it, you’ll quickly realize how all those negative thoughts weren’t supporting you at all.

3. See Setbacks As Learning Experiences 

We tend to be most critical whenever we encounter setbacks, especially those we’ve set up for ourselves. But let’s face it – we’re all human, and we all make mistakes. Instead of kicking yourself down for them, try to embrace them more positively.

The key to self-compassion is to react positively no matter how grave the situation might be. So, if something didn’t go according to plan or you haven’t reached the goals you’ve set within your own timeframe, there’s no need to get critical. Just start seeing them as learning experiences. Realize where you’ve gone wrong and try again.

Most importantly, you need to remember that setbacks happen to everyone, and whenever they do, remind yourself that you did your absolute best.

A lack of self-compassion usually comes from the way we see ourselves, but being tough and judging gets us nowhere. By embracing these “flaws” positively, you start shifting your mind into something brighter, ultimately getting yourself out of the cycle of self-criticism. 

So, incorporate these self-compassion exercises and let your inner voice change - you’ll be thankful for it every day!

Are you ready to discover your unique journey where criticism and negative thoughts won’t stand in your way? Take my free Embracing Your Worthiness quiz, and let us help you thrive!