Practice Self-Compassion

Quick Win

Want to increase your happiness and resilience? Sideline your inner critic and start treating yourself the way you treat your friends, with kindness.

Try This Today

• Be your own best friend. If you make a mistake, experience a disappointment or feel intimidated, give yourself a pep talk. Like The Beach Boys famously sang: “Don’t worry baby, everything will turn out alright.”
• See the big picture. Be compassionate about the challenges you’re facing. Everyone struggles sometimes. It’s part of being human.
  
• Support yourself with touch. We respond to warm, caring touch, whether it comes from others or ourselves. One technique: Put your hand on your heart and take a few deep breaths.

Why

We tend to equate compassion with kindness to others — but directing that kindness inward may benefit your health. Practicing self-compassion means treating yourself with love and care, and accepting that you’re a flawed human being, just like everyone else. Research by Kristin Neff, Ph.D., at the University of Texas at Austin has shown an association between self-compassion and various aspects of mental health. A 2020 review of 11 studies affirmed the potential mental-health benefits of self-compassion for older adults.