How to Develop Self-Compassion

Overcoming any form of dependence or addiction is a challenge and being hard on yourself is not helpful. You are the only one who can understand what you are going through, what you have faced, and what you need to change.

Why Practice Self-Compassion?

Self-compassion is a key step in improving your resilience and ability to deal with stressors. We are taught to be kind to others but tend to forget that we should be kind to ourselves too. 

Self-compassion is a way to forgive yourself for past mistakes while taking care of your current needs. Acting from a place of self-compassion motivates you to start the recovery journey and to persevere when things get tough. 

It will increase your compassion towards others and improve your relationships, as well. Being compassionate with yourself allows you to acknowledge how your past choices hurt others and to make amends. 

How to be More Compassionate?

It's hard to do, especially for those caught in a negative cycle. Here are some tips for getting started:

• Learn to reward yourself for accomplishments in healthy nurturing ways.
• Treat yourself in the same way that you would treat a friend or loved one going through a difficult situation.
• Accept your failures or mistakes so that you can move forward and try again.
• Recognize and acknowledge that everyone deals with struggles and you're not alone.
• Realize that your success or failure doesn't define you or your worth.
• Practice mindfulness or a meditation technique such as loving-kindness meditation.

Learning to be kinder towards yourself and others can become more natural to you if you make it a habit. Compassion is a tool worth having on the recovery journey.