Practicing Self-Compassion for Self-Improvement

Compassion and self-love are important ways to set up successful habits for self-improvement.

Improving Mental Health with Compassion

Educators are in the improvement business. At the heart of teaching is getting children to achieve their best. This often requires struggle, deep assessment, reflection, practice, and failure. Adding compassion to the formula gets the best results.

Compassion helps for self-improvement, too.

Compassion is the ability to see suffering in others and have a desire to help them or comfort them. By being compassionate, you are better able to understand and support the emotions of other people. As a result, you will feel more motivated to help and support others– and yourself.

Compassion builds connection. Connecting with others has the ability to improve your mental and physical health, as well as increase your lifespan. Other benefits include:

Increased sense of connection to others
Strengthened immune system
Lower risk of anxiety and depression
Lower stress levels
Higher self-esteem
Better outlook on life

Just as demonstrating compassion toward others will increase your positive impact on them, self-compassion will help you achieve the best version of yourself.

Self-compassion is allowing yourself the space to be human and being kind to yourself when confronted with failures or personal shortcomings. It means that you demonstrate the same empathy toward yourself when you are going through a tough time that you would towards a dear friend. Support yourself, allow yourself to feel, and give yourself honest feedback about how to grow.

Ways to Practice Self-Compassion

Remember it takes practice to be self compassionate.

Check out the video course, “How to Develop Self-Compassion”.

What is Self-Love?

One way to develop self compassion is to practice self-love. Self-love refers to appreciating yourself and treating yourself with kindness, both in thought and action. To love yourself means that you accept yourself fully, respect yourself, and nurture your wellbeing. This doesn’t mean that you won’t have negative thoughts, but overall you have a positive view of yourself.

Understand that you will have disappointments or be upset, but you need to love yourself through these moments. Think of when your child does something wrong, and although you are disappointed in them, you still love them. Give yourself this same courtesy and cheer yourself on throughout the highs and the lows.

The Power of Self-Love

Self-love is a powerful tool that can completely change your outlook on life. It leads to better mental health, higher self-esteem, more motivation, less anxiety, and better sleep. The moment you start practicing self-love, you will want to take better care of yourself and you will gradually acquire a healthier lifestyle.

Additionally, you will no longer neglect your feelings and your values. Self-love is the foundation that will give you the strength to stand up for ourselves. You will have a greater ability to set boundaries, create better relationships with others, and pursue your life goals.

Ways to Practice Self-Love

References

Ackerman, C. What Is Self-Compassion and What Is Self-Love? PositivePsychology.com (2020). [Source]

5 ways to practice self-love for good mental health. The Transition House Blog. (n.d.).
Retrieved January 17, 2023, [Source]

Brooks, S. (n.d.). How to become a compassionate parent. Parenting with PACEs.
Retrieved January 17, 2023, [Source]

Forbes Magazine. (2022, August 12). 6 ways to practice self-love. Forbes.
Retrieved January 17, 2023, [Source]

The relationship between compassion and mental health. WithTherapy. (2022, March 2). Retrieved January 17, 2023, [Source]

Wellness, T. (2022, December 1). What is self-love? benefits of practicing self-love daily. The Wellness Corner.
Retrieved January 17, 2023, [Source]