{"id":7560,"date":"2022-05-04T10:16:52","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T14:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/corelifemd.com\/?p=7560"},"modified":"2022-05-04T10:47:09","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T14:47:09","slug":"self-compassion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corelifemd.com\/dev\/self-compassion\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Compassion"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

\u201cThe recognition and clear seeing of suffering\u2026feelings of kindness for people who are suffering, so that the desire to help \u2013 to ameliorate suffering \u2013 emerges\u2026 recognizing our shared human condition, flawed and fragile as it is.\u201d <\/span><\/i>– Kristen Neff\u2019s definition of compassion<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Two leading researchers in the field of self-compassion, Paul Gilbert and Kristen Neff, have found that kindness is one of the most important elements to improving your mental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Neff, the main elements of compassion are recognizing suffering, understanding pain is universal, moving towards the alleviation of suffering, and showing kindness. Self-compassion is about being kind to ourselves when we are in pain, suffering, or having a hard time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compassion is linked to the love hormone, oxytocin, which shows up when we feel close to someone or something and feel bonded to those around us. For example, when you play with your pet or child, oxytocin is released. This same love hormone can be released when we are self-compassionate or kind to ourselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Overcoming Self-Criticism<\/span><\/h3>\n

We cannot talk about self-compassion without talking about self-criticism. How many of us are hard on ourselves when things do not go the way we anticipated, when we cannot be perfect, or when we are perceived to have failed? We all do it. We have been conditioned to use self-criticism as motivation to be better; however, it often has the opposite effect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you speak to yourself in moments when you think you failed? How do you feel afterward? What would it be like for you to speak to yourself with words of kindness and compassion instead of criticism and judgment?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do we move from self-criticism to self-compassion? Taking care of yourself is one of the most important ways to practice self-compassion. Self-soothing or using your senses to calm your mind and body is a helpful starting point. Here are some ideas to get started:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Self-Soothing Activities:\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n