We can be the hardest on ourselves when things do not work the way we want them to.

We blame ourselves, we become angry with ourselves.

When it came to my body this is the part of myself that I was toughest with. I was never satisfied with the way my body looked, either I was too skinny, or I was too fat.  I was also dealing with hormonal issues, I had PCOS and I also had a huge fibroid in my womb (click here for fibroid story), I hated my body.

I felt like it was always working against me as if it couldn’t get itself in order. I would talk to my body as if it was another part of myself as if I was not connected to my body at all.

Thinking about it now I’m like aw my poor body, the more issues it would run into (and there were many more) being on fire, GERD, and fibroids the more I would just hate my body.

When I started my healing journey, I consciously changed my relationship with my body.

I learned that the thoughts we think affect our bodies and to have a positive relationship with our bodies we need to practice self-compassion.

I started practicing yoga, meditation, and mindfulness frequently tapping into what my body is saying to me and its needs. Creating a harmonious relationship with my mind and body.

Importance of practicing self-compassion

When we practice self-compassion, it encourages us to give ourselves support and encouragement rather than judgment and criticism.

It also lowers anxiety levels and depression because we are giving ourselves the positive reinforcement that we need. When we are giving advice to a loving friend, we are more likely to encourage and be compassionate with them. We want to be supportive and make everything better for that friend.

This is the same type of encouragement that we need to give ourselves to keep us moving forward.

Self-compassion also builds resiliency when going through tough moments. Let’s say you went to an interview and didn’t do well, if you lack self-compassion you could turn the feelings inward and blame yourself, this will then affect your performance in future interviews.

“Be gentle first with yourself if you wish to be gentle with others.” ~Lama Yeshe

As opposed to going on an interview, not doing well, and giving yourself grace and compassion. This will leave you feeling excited and encouraged for future interviews.

Self-compassion is about being warm and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignoring our pain or flagellating ourselves with self-criticism. Here are the ways you can practice more self-compassion

Forgive Yourself

We can carry regret, guilt, and shame like a badge of honor, even though we might not mean to. When we hold onto past mistakes and regrets, we carry a heavy burden that can weigh down our minds and hearts, leading to stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Forgiving ourselves is about taking responsibility for our actions while recognizing that we are all imperfect and capable of making mistakes.

When it came to my body, I felt a lot of shame and embarrassment because of the way that my body looked, and also shame that my hormones were out of balance there was a sense of not being “normal”

When I started to forgive myself and give myself love and compassion, I began to heal my body and learned to love and accept it as is.

Write a letter to yourself

This is a great way to see your circumstances from a different perspective. Writing a letter to yourself but as if you are writing it to a friend.

With self-compassion, we learn to speak to ourselves like a good friend.

Writing a letter to yourself provides an opportunity for introspection and self-reflection.

When writing to yourself, you can adopt a supportive and compassionate tone. This can help you to internalize self-compassion and develop a more loving attitude towards yourself.

Practicing Gratitude

Practicing gratitude can help you to develop a more positive outlook on life and cultivate self-compassion.

When you focus on the things you are grateful for, you are less likely to dwell on negative thoughts and feelings. This can lead to increased happiness and well-being.

• I am grateful for having a healthy body, I have all my limbs everything is functioning as it should.
• I am grateful for god allowing me to be disease-free.
• I am grateful for grace and mercy every day.

As you start to reflect and think of all the things that you are grateful for, you are reminded of all the blessings that you have in your life.

By practicing gratitude, you can cultivate a more positive and compassionate attitude towards yourself and others.

Conclusion

As we embark on this journey of self-discovery, let us remember that self-compassion is not about self-indulgence or self-pity. It is about treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding that we would extend to a close friend. It is about acknowledging our imperfections, accepting our vulnerabilities, and embracing our authentic selves.

So, let us embark on this journey of self-compassion with open hearts and open minds. Let us embrace our humanity, our imperfections, and our strengths. And let us discover the true power of self-love and self-acceptance.