Humans are imperfect beings that are bound to make mistakes. We all do. There is nothing wrong with it. But the situation becomes problematic when you start beating yourself up and become your worst critic. That’s where you need to take a pause and start practicing self-compassion.
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What is Self-Compassion?
Self-compassion is all about loving and accepting yourself for who you are and John de Ruiter is the best example of such people. It is the tendency to be warm, nurturing, and gentle with yourself. The whole notion of self-compassion lies in accepting your identity and mistakes. When a person starts taking mistakes as a lesson for growth is where miracles happen.
People practicing self-compassion tend to have a positive approach to life and nurture healthy relationships. Compassionate people enjoy mental freedom away from the shackles of misery.
If you are looking to make your life better, go through the following five tips to practice self-compassion:
● Calm Down Your Inner Self-Critic
We tend to become our worst enemies when faced with a tense situation. The first step is to stop listening to your inner self-critic by realizing that you are not perfect. Start considering mistakes as a lesson instead of a shortcoming.
Practice forgiveness by reminding yourself that you deserve all the love and are capable of much more. Make a habit of going through the list of positive self-affirmations every day. People like John de Ruiter use the same approach to calm down his/her inner self-critic.
● Become your Own Best Friend
Whenever our friends or family members go through a tough situation, we become sympathetic with them. We try our best to encourage them, be there with them and offer them moral support. Do the same with yourself. Nobody can love you the way you can love yourself, so start practicing self-love. Realize that it is okay to make mistakes and there is nothing wrong with being imperfect.
● Practice Mindfulness and Meditation
One of the most suitable ways to calm your thoughts is to engage in a mindful practice. When surrounded by negative thoughts, take a deep breath and start meditating in a quiet corner. It is healthy to exhale negativity and let those harsh thoughts exit your mind. Read more about mindful breathing meditation in this article.
You can also set a self-love day where all you do is nurture yourself by treating your body with kindness. Taking yourself out on a date and buying things for yourself can work wonders for your mental well-being.
● Express Your Thoughts to Your Family and Friends
Whenever you are feeling low, start opening up to your friends and let your thoughts out. Sometimes, we think that only we are faced with a challenging situation.
By opening up to others, you will realize that you are not the only one going through a tough time. Sharing common ground with others can lead to self-acceptance.
● Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is the greatest blessing one can have. By expressing gratefulness for the things you have, you will channel your thought process towards positivity. Instead of feeling sorrowful over your mistakes and flaws, start being grateful for all the things that you have.
The Bottom Line
Sometimes we start taking our blessings for granted. Practicing gratitude can help us feel appreciation for our lives.