Self-compassion is a critical component of mental health, but in a world where we are often our own harshest critics, this can be difficult. Keeping some compassion-centered phrases on hand will make it easier to shift your perspective when you catch yourself being too harsh. Here are 10 from Psychology Today writer Alice Boyes Ph.D.
- All I need to do today is put one foot in front of the other.
- If I chose not to approach this with the goal of perfection, how would I approach this?
- Ok, that happened. What would be most helpful now?
- I would love to be able to control this situation more than I can. Lack of control makes me anxious. I’m going to give myself kindness for how scary it feels to lack complete control.
- I don’t need to rush. I can do this task at my own pace.
- Right now, I’m safe and I can take a moment to absorb whatever shockwaves of life I might be experiencing.
- Do I need to tell myself a different story about myself? What have I accomplished today? What am I proud of?
- I may not know what struggles other people are experiencing, but I know to be human is to struggle. Everyone has their own battles and challenges. I’m not alone in that.
- Nobody’s life is perfect and I will face challenges today. How can I best protect myself and those around me with the resources I have?
- Am I expecting more of myself than other people are of me? Would reality-checking my thinking help me feel less anxious and pressured?
How we speak to ourselves impacts how we see the world and ourselves in it. Positive self-talk is the first step towards prioritizing self-love and making self-compassion a habit.
