Mindfulness and Self-Compassion
Part 6 in a 7 Part Series on Integrative Mindfulness
Many of us spend so much energy on being compassionate and empathetic towards others that we’re not left with the energy needed to feel self-compassion for ourselves. Mindfulness teaches us that true compassion toward others emerges most fully and most authentically when we first begin to feel compassion for ourselves.
Self-compassion refers to our recognition of our own experience of suffering as well as a willingness to move away from that place of suffering. Self-compassion is not sympathy or pity — both of which can prolong and heighten distress — but a non-judgemental recognition that suffering exists and a gentle willingness to no longer be in that state. Mindfulness does not aim to repress or to even deny the existing of suffering, nor does it encourage us to welcome strong negative emotions into our life. However, a regular mindfulness practice does enable us to recognise two important and interrelated features of the mind: 1) through practice we are able to choose how we respond to challenging or activating emotions, and 2) by acknowledging the existence of these challenging or activating emotions we notice that they will begin to change and move on of their own accord.
