What is self-compassion?

Self-compassion is being kind to yourself when you're not doing so well.

Imagine you’re playing a game with your friend, and you lose. Instead of saying, “I’m the worst!”, you say, “That’s okay, I’ll try again.” That’s self-compassion, it’s like giving yourself a warm hug when things go wrong.

What It Feels Like

When you’re being self-compassionate, it's like having a best friend who always cheers you on. If you spill juice all over your shirt, instead of getting upset, you might laugh and say, “That’s funny! I’ll clean it up later.” You're not being mean to yourself, you're being kind.

Why It Matters

Self-compassion helps you feel better when things are hard. Think of it like a blanket on a cold day, it keeps you warm and happy inside, even if the outside world feels tough.

You don’t have to be perfect all the time. You just need to treat yourself with kindness, like you would your best friend.

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Examples

  1. A child who falls down and says, 'It's okay, I'll get up again.'
  2. Someone failing a test and saying, 'I did my best, and that's all that matters.'
  3. An adult comforting themselves after a bad day, just like they would comfort a friend.

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