Do you have big plans this holiday season?
Do you tend to be hard on yourself when something doesn’t go to plan?
If you do, you could be placing unnecessary pressure on yourself.
When we’ve failed at something or didn’t get it quite perfect enough, it can be easy to fall into a spiral of self-deprecating negativity.
Still, during these moments, we need to remember to exercise self-compassion.
Expert on self-compassion, Dr. Kristin Neff, noted that “Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings.”
Self-compassion has been linked to several benefits, including:
Reduced risk of depression and anxiety
Increased empathy, altruism and forgiveness
Increased job satisfaction
Building awareness around one’s limits and knowing when it’s time to seek support
Increased likelihood of choosing positive coping strategies
Higher levels of emotional intelligence
Building resilience to stress
So how can you practice more self-compassion?
Be kind to yourself.
Practice reframing your mindset whenever your inner critic chimes in with something negative.
For example, stop saying things like “I suck” or “I’m such a failure” and instead reframe it to something like “I tried my best, and I learned a couple of things for next time.”
Talk to yourself as you would to a dear friend.
Practice mindfulness.
When you notice uncomfortable emotions bubbling up, take a moment to breathe and experience them without attaching words or labels to the feeling.
It’s especially important to do this when you begin to experience that negative self-talk.
Work on accepting your imperfections and shortcomings.
The truth is that not everything we do will be perfect and we shouldn’t be striving for perfection anyway.
The key is to do your best and accept whatever the results are.
Remember to give yourself grace if it doesn’t always turn out as you hoped.
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Dr Adeola Mead is a Naturopathic Physician, Workplace Wellness Consultant and Executive Coach. Reach out to learn more about her work with individuals and organizations: info@dradeolamead.com
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