If you've ever made a mistake or setback, you might be wondering how to treat yourself better. Self-compassion is the idea of treating yourself with kindness, as if you were talking to a good friend. Self-compassion is a simple practice, but it has profound benefits for your physical and psychological health. Here are some benefits of self-compassion.
Treating yourself kindly after a mistake or setback
Self-compassion is the ability to treat yourself with warmth, compassion, and understanding after you have made a mistake or setback. When you make a mistake, you may feel ashamed, embarrassed, or unsure of how to proceed. You may be tempted to justify your behavior, or to place blame on someone else. But it's important to remember that mistakes are part of life, and to treat yourself kindly after a slip is the best way to rekindle that motivation.
Failure can feel like the ultimate barrier that prevents you from reaching your goals. In a culture of high achievers, failure can seem like an insurmountable barrier. But failure is simply a stepping stone to a more successful future. The best way to handle it is by thinking of how you would support a friend going through a similar setback. Buy an inspirational book or watch a video, or bake yourself a comfort cake to eat when your emotions are low.
Treating yourself like you would treat a good friend
When you make a mistake or experience a setback, treat yourself the way you would treat a good friend. A good friend will offer you kindness, hugs, and advice. They may also encourage you to do something about it and avoid recurrence of the same problem. A good friend will also be supportive and encouraging. So, treat yourself with kindness and compassion.
Benefits of self-compassion for physical health
Recent research has found surprising benefits from cultivating self-compassion after a mistake or setback. Having self-compassion prompts a person to adopt health-promoting behaviors such as healthy eating, adequate sleep, and effective stress management. Consequently, people with high self-compassion score higher on tests of physical health. Self-compassion is also linked to better immune function and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Physiological effects of self-compassion after a mistake or setback have also been studied. Research suggests that practicing self-compassion reduces the body's response to stress. The brain releases the hormone oxytocin when it experiences compassionate thoughts, which reduces irritability and stress. Compassionate thoughts also activate the vagus nerve, which promotes feelings of calm and connection.
Benefits for psychological health
A recent study found that people who practice self-compassion experience higher self-esteem and greater satisfaction with their lives. The study's participants were mostly women. This suggests that interventions to increase self-compassion might be more effective for women. In addition, the results suggest that self-compassion may be associated with a reduction in feelings of isolation. The findings of the study suggest that self-compassion benefits psychological health after a mistake or setback.
A new study from the University of British Columbia shows that self-compassion can improve psychological health after a mistake or setback. In the study, participants described difficult situations in detail and responded to prompts with compassion for themselves. In time, as more people left the study, the quality of their responses improved. However, many researchers believe that self-compassion should not be used in place of self-acceptance and forgiveness.
