We all make mistakes; some people are just better at dealing with them. If you beat yourself up over a lost job, an argument with a loved one, or blame yourself for a major loss, the stress could be harming your health and well-being.
Practicing self-compassion can prevent this problem. When you forgive and care for yourself, you can improve cognitive function and heart health, derive more enjoyment from life, and lower levels of anxiety.
Self-compassion is not necessarily an inherent skill. It can be learned and practiced by anybody. A few ways you can boost self-compassion include:
Caring for your body: Eating a healthy diet, lying down for a rest, going for a walk, or getting a massage can all help relieve stress and improve mental and physical health.
Write to yourself: If a particular event has caused you to feel bad about yourself, take a moment to write to yourself. Describe the situation—without anger or blame directed towards anybody (or yourself). This exercise can help you understand and form feelings.
Talk to yourself: How would you encourage a good friend if they were feeling the same way or about to face a stressful situation? Tell yourself the same things you would compassionately tell someone else. You need to hear it too.
Try mindfulness meditation.
It’s easy to forget about caring for yourself in troublesome times, but it is required. Stress and anxiety can lead to cognitive and physical health issues, and self-compassion is a useful tool to combat them.
Mohan Garikiparithi holds a degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade. During a three-year communications program in Germany, he developed an interest in German medicine (homeopathy) and other alternative systems of medicine. This article was originally published on Bel Marra Health.
