The last several months have put a strain on our emotional stability. How to navigate this challenging landscape? Self-compassion may be the answer.
Whenever you face a setback at work or in your personal life, consider taking a more compassionate approach towards yourself. Here’s how to do it.
What Is Self-Compassion?
As its name suggests, self-compassion is the ability to extend to ourselves the same grace we extend to others.
While you may believe that being critical of yourself can help you improve and achieve success, research shows that harsh self-judgments make us weaker in the face of setbacks. Self-compassion, by contrast, is a more useful mindset that is also kinder to your emotional wellbeing.
How to Practice Self-Compassion?
Self-compassion means treating ourselves the way we would treat a friend we deeply appreciate. If this sounds simple, putting it into practice can be anything but. But don’t worry, below we outline some guidelines to help you as you shift towards a more self-compassionate attitude.
First off, don’t beat yourself up. Research suggests that we are harsher with ourselves than with others. So cut the negative self-talk whenever you make a mistake. When you catch yourself in that type of situation ask yourself, “Is this what I’d say to my best friend if she/he had made this mistake?” If the answer is no, then it’s time for some self-compassion.
These are some simple ways to work on your self-compassion skills until it becomes a habit:
- Learn to forgive yourself.
- Be grateful for the positive things in your life.
- Allow yourself to take breaks whenever you feel overwhelmed.
- Don’t hesitate to seek support if you feel that you need it.
More Tips and Resources
These are some previous posts you can check out for more ideas on how to lead with confidence:
- Need a mental break? Try these 3 quick hacks
- How to promote creativity in the workplace
- How to conduct job interviews remotely
- 3 trends every small business should consider in 2021
- How to be a better communicator this 2021
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