Self-Compassion Meditation

Self-compassion is a concept that many of us struggle with. It’s often easier to rush through life with a ‘no pain no gain’ attitude than it is to slow down and admit that we need to take care of ourselves sometimes. Many of us are habitually self-critical, unconsciously beating ourselves up over our perceived mistakes and shortcomings. Talking down to ourselves in a way we would never to someone else. In my experience, constantly being at war with ourselves isn’t a healthy way to operate long-term, and it’s not long before the body starts to shout back. For me, learning the skill of self-compassion has been essential for my physical and mental health. But like any skill, it’s taken some practice. In this session, I’d like to share one of the techniques that has really helped me. It involves a crafty trick of first conjuring up compassion that’s inherently there for others, and then attempting to turn a little bit of it inward.

Reviews

This was deeply emtional for me. It is so easy to send loving kindness and support. I am well-practiced from childhood. But I was educated always to put others before me. Perhaps because of that I have never been anyone's priority. Which is not to say that I have never been loved, but I was in service and appreciated for that, I'd say, and then relegated when no longer needed. Feeling the love being sent to me in this exercise brought up pain and sadness that I didn't realise was there. I am old now but I still have feelings, which is something, I guess. Will revisit this practice and see what happens. Thank you 🙏🏻💞

Really nice! The pacing felt a little quick but perhaps I just prefer longer moments of silence