Embracing Self-Compassion - By Kate Ottrando
Embracing Self-Compassion
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” - Aesop
By Kate Ottrando, Student Worker with The WELL
This quote inspires me every day to be kind to those who are around me, and eventually, I realized that this quote also applies to how I treat myself. Throughout my journey with self compassion, I have learned some helpful strategies. I am still learning about self compassion, as it is a life-long process, but I’d love to share what I have learned so far.
I’ve always believed that the greatest strength in life is gentleness. In the time I’ve spent helping young children and taking care of dogs, the impact of gentleness - of being soothing, reassuring, patient, and kind was very apparent. I learned that if I treat myself with the same empathy that I give to children and animals, my life is more peaceful and joyful as a result.
In my experience, self compassion can be as simple as taking a deep breath and telling myself that everything will be ok, that I am doing my best, and that I am enough. It may also mean going for a walk on the beach and taking a break to relax or unwind. I can choose to be a reassuring friend to myself, which is particularly helpful when life gets challenging.
Positive self talk is a major component of Positive Psychology. I feel very fortunate to be a participant in the WELL’s Positive Psychology Group. I’ve been a member of this group for the past two years, and it has changed my life. I’ve learned that as we monitor our self talk, we can begin to mold our thoughts toward ourselves into more compassionate and gentle messages, and doing so can contribute to overall feelings of wellbeing. While this may take some practice, it is truly worthwhile. If the relationship we have with ourselves is one of love and support, it makes sense that our lives will be happier. If you are interested in reading more about the role that positive self talk plays in positive psychology, please visit the link below:
https://positivepsychology.com/positive-self-talk/
I heard about Kristin Neff a few years ago. Kristin is an expert on self compassion. She has done extensive research on the subject, and she is a source of inspiration for millions of people. Her website has free activities and resources all centered around self compassion. If you are interested in exploring Kristin’s website on self compassion, please check out the following link:
https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/#exercises
Self compassion is something we all need and deserve, especially during this pandemic. We often give our families, friends, and pets unconditional love and support. Now is the perfect time to shower ourselves with that same gentleness. Doing so might just change our lives.