The Self

Self refers to a person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others. It is similar to the concept “I”. 

Name

A person's name serves as one's initial identity to the world. It can serve various purposes such as indication of ownership of an object or work or identification of one's accomplishments and achievement. Using names, one can explore the their meanings, contexts, and sources to gain a better understanding of themselves and their relationship with the people and things around them. 

Beliefs and Concerns

Belief is the acknowledgment that a statement is true or something exists, whereas concern implies having worries or anxieties. In relation to the self, everyone has both beliefs and concerns about themselves. Identifying these and the reason behind them can help an individual grow and undertake themselves better.

Philosophy is the attempt to seek, answers, explanations, and connections for problems and thoughts regarding reality, knowledge, and value. The concepts of self in philosophy is described as the identification of the multiple facts of identity that make a subject of an experience unique.

Furthermore, the philosophy of the self seeks to describe the essential qualities that constitute a person’s uniqueness or essence of being. The Self can be considered the being, which is the source of consciousness, the agent responsible for an individual’s thoughts and actions, or a person’s substantial nature which endures and unifies consciousness over time. 

Sociology is the examination and analysis of human relationship and institutions. Various aspects of human life, such as family, state, race, social class, beliefs, and religion are stated in sociology. The continuity and changes in these aspects of society are also analyzed to understand how the actions and consciousness of human affect culture and society and vice versa. 

Sociology engages in the analysis and explanation of the lives of individuals as they engage in the community and the world. Thus, the human being, as the main character of such study and investigation, is being identified in its simplest form, as the self-engaging in the community, society, and the world. 

Stret and Burke (2003) provided the following sociological perspectives of the self:

1. There is a reciprocal relationship between the self and society.

2. The self emerges in and is reflective of society. 

3. The basis for understanding social structures arises from the actions of individuals.

4. The social construction of selfhood is about the meanings and understandings associated with the public self. 

5. There is a broad contextualization of the self.

Society and The Self

According to Mead, individuals compose a society; without people, a society cannot exist. The selves, minds, and roles carried by individuals enable a society to exist. He argues that the self does not exist as a result of psychological drives or needs but because society needs it to exist.

The “I” and “me”

The self appears as a reflection of the society where an individual engages and participates in. Mead presented the interactive facets of the self namely, "I" and "me". The "me" facet is the perspective of the self that one assumes to view and analyze their own behaviors and actions. This perspective is a result of taking roles in a society and its progressive stages. On the other hand, the "I" facet refers to the self that is impulsive or spontaneous and unsocialized. The self is a result of the interaction of these two facets.

There is a constant dialogue between the "I" and "me" in social situations and experiences. For example, the "I" aspect of a student expresses the desire to jump or shout because she won a school competition. However, her "me" aspect will think about the action and judge if it is appropriate to do so. The "T" acts on impulse, and the "me" takes into account the present reality and the possible consequences of an action. These two features of the self enable one to come up with the best decisions and actions. An important note about the two is that the "I" can precede the "me" in certain situations. As a result, the "T" can take actions that the "me" has not thought about yet and could often be an act contrary to what the surrounding community expects.

Anthropology comes from the two Greek words, Anthropos, meaning “human”, and logos, meaning “thought” or “reason". Anthropology, thus, refers to the study of humans and their ancestors through time. 

1. ARCHAEOLOGY – This subdiscipline of anthropology refers to the interpretation of human behavior based on material remains through time.

2. CULTURAL – This subdiscipline explores the diversity of past and present cultures and aspects of human society based on research conducted in the field.

3. BIOLOGICAL OR PHYSICAL – This subdiscipline studies the biological and behavioral aspects of humans and their ancestors, as well as non-human primates.

4. LINGUISTIC – This subdiscipline is concerned with human languages, their aspects, and social and cultural contexts across time.

Culture refers to the "customary behavior and beliefs that are passed on thought enculturation" (Kottak, 2008). Cultural psychologists state that humans have the capacity to interpret the meaning of things. Each culture can have independent and interdependent constructs. The independent construct refers to certain characteristics of an individualistic culture, whereas the interdependent construct refers to the collectivist culture specifically exemplified in East Asia.

REMINDER: The anthropological perspective of the self states that the self is a "physical organism possessing psychological functioning and social attributes" (Ewing, 1990). Furthermore, the self is not static. 

Psychology is the study of mental processes and human behavior. It explains why people act and behave the way they do. The mind processes several inputs that translate into their behavior.

1. COVERT BEHAVIOR - are infernal and invisible, such as having feelings and thoughts

2. OVERT BEHAVIOR - are behaviors that can be observed, such as the manner of talking, walking, or acting of a person.

Cognitive Construction 

Cognitive construction ground experiences in neural processes, resulting in cognitive consequences. Self-experiences can be analyzed in a mental processing unit, resulting in outputs, effects, or decisions that convey the complexity of the self.

1. The self can be seen from two perspectives:

   The knower (pure or transcendental "I")

   The known (objective or empirical "me").

2.  James and Lange's James-Lange theory posits that the mind perceives physiological conditions, forming the self based on emotion, and individual possessions evoke emotional responses.

3.  "me" aspect of self into:

a.  Material Self  - refers to things that an individual owns.

b.  Social Self         - refers to an individual in a particular social situation.

c.  Spiritual Self -  refers to who an individual is at the "core" of their being.

d.  Ego                         - refers to the "T" aspect of an individual.

The Real and Ideal Selves

Psychology introduces the concepts of the real self and the ideal self, which form part of one's personality. The real self refers to how one thinks, feels, acts, and looks at the world. Oneself image is shaped by life experiences and learnings, leading to the development of an ideal self.

Western and Eastern thoughts may vary, but they are both highly significant in understanding the concepts of self. There are times when one may find the other peculiar in essence. 

Western Perception of the Self

The Western self concept, rooted in Western psychology, refers to an abstract yet real entity within a person, characterized as the thinker of thoughts, doer of deeds, and feeler of feelings, originating from the concept of the soul or mind.

Social Construction of the Self 

The social construction of the self is comprised of various characteristics and elements. The examples of social constructs that originated in the West are as follows: 

1. The Self as a Social Achievement or Accomplishment

 - Language structure refers to the patterns and patterns used in communication, enabling individuals to connect and understand others. Conversational practices also play a crucial role in facilitating communication.

2. Ongoing Interaction

- Harold Garfinkel's book, Studies in Ethnomethodology (1967), asserts that realities are present in conversations, enabling self-connection and interaction. Individuals' traditions and culture shape their daily lives, and language defines these realities as well as Individual differences challenge self-contained worlds, as George Herbert Mead  and Lev Vygotsky  emphasized self-relationship with others, but separation can lead to disconnection.

Eastern Perception of the Self

Buddhism posits the self through the five skandhas: form, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness, with the fifth skandha forming the ego, a concept in Buddhist psychology.  Walpola Rahula argued that Buddhism's psychology lacks the inner self concept, leading to harmful thoughts and conflicts, and potentially causing all evil in the world.

Hinduism emphasizes the concept of the self, involving the Brahman and Atman. Brahman represents the universe, Atman represents the human soul. The water cycle exemplifies this relationship, with Atman represented by water and the cycle representing reincarnation. The self is connected to Brahman, encompassing everything, and is conceptualized over centuries of lifetimes.

Individual and Collective Conceptive Concepts of the Self

Anthony Marsella and Louis Dumont, both Western thinkers, emphasize the importance of individualism and the self, defining it as separate, detached, and self-sufficient, reflecting the Western perspective. Thus, Kirkpatrick and White 1985) further stated that anything related to psychology connects to a person.

The non-Western self-perception emphasizes wholism, valuing society and its influence on significant others, highlighting the importance of collective experiences within family, community, and culture.

The Self  in Confucian Thought

Confucian philosophy prioritizes others' needs over one's own, recognizing no self and valuing service over self-care. It views personality influenced by upbringing and environment. The following ethical concepts are applied by the followers of Confucianism:

• Jen - compassion

• Yi - righteousness

• Li - propriety

• Chih - wisdom

Physical self is the visible and tangible aspect of a person that can directly be observed or scrutinized. The following are different perspectives on the physical self, which are explained by various psychologists and Eastern traditions: 

Eastern traditions

particularly in India, emphasize the physical self, with yoga being a manifestation that views the body as a vessel for spiritual growth and self-realization, promoting discipline and physical strength for enlightenment.

Body image is the physical appearance and self-perception of an individual, influenced by various factors, including culture, which can either positively or negatively impact it. Awareness is crucial for a positive body image.

Self-esteem encompasses a person's self-worth and respect, influenced by cultural factors like diet and body image, which can lead to excessive or inappropriate body image enhancement.

Social media has led to a growing concern about body image, with careful selection and editing of photos impacting beauty concepts. Regardless of cultural factors, self-perception and self-perception are crucial.

Adolescent Sexuality and Human  Reproduction

Adolescence is a crucial period for individuals to become aware of their sexual self, as physical and physiological characteristics develop, impacting emotional and mental aspects. Secondary sex characteristics during puberty heighten sexual desire, and the human reproductive system works together. Factors such as upbringing, social environment, and expectations influence conception of sexual self. Self-education, identity recognition, and self-evaluation are essential for developing sexual self-awareness and identifying sexual behavior.

Erogenous Zones 

The human body are sensitive to sexual stimulation, classified as nonspecific and specific zones, determined by nerve ending concentration.

Physical intimacy involves stimulating nonspecific zones like the neck, arms, and chest, while specific zones like the lips and genitalia evoke intense sexual responses, depending on individual desires.

Phases on Human Sexual Response

An individual who performs sexual activities, especially, masturbation and sexual intercourse goes through four phases:

• Excitement

•  plateau

•  Orgasm

•  resolution.

Knowing ones reactions to such phases will help them understand their sexual self-better. This can also improve relationships in terms of sexuality and sexual activity.

Chemistry of Love, Lust and Attachment

Katherine Wu (201) identifies three types of love: lust, attraction, and attachment. Lust is driven by sexual gratification, affecting testosterone and estrogen levels. Attraction affects brain reward behavior, causing thrilling relationships. Attachment involves bonding, intimacy, and social cordiality, intensified by oxytocin and vasopressin.

Sexual Behavior and Orientation

Humans exhibit diverse sexual behavior, including sexual orientation, psychological components like erotic desires, and behavioral components. Sexual orientation refers to the enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to opposite or same-sex partners.

There are various types of sexual orientation that people use to identify with. Asexuality refers to the absence of sexual attraction to other people. Heterosexuality refers to the preference for the opposite sex. Homosexuality is the preference for the same sex. Bisexuality refers to the childhood to their adolescent years. preference for both sexes. Psychologically, the origins of sexual attraction can be traced from one's

Sexual Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases are infections transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, oral, unsterilized needles, childbirth, breastfeeding, and blood transfusions. Human genitalia is vulnerable to bacteria, fungi, and viruses due to its moist and warm environment. The following are the three of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the Philippines:

Overpopulation in many countries is a result of inadequate family planning and guidance, necessitating the importance of sex education, particularly contraception knowledge, to manage population. The following are the categories of contraception, namely natural, hormonal and barrier, and surgical methods. 

1. Natural Methods 

 -  Natural family planning methods exclude chemical components that may not be needed by the human body. Most religious individuals opt for the following natural methods:

2. Hormonal and Barrier Method 

        - Hormonal contraception manipulates hormone production to disrupt a woman's reproductive system and menstrual cycle. Barrier methods prevent sperm from reaching the uterus or egg, are single use only, and should be disposed of immediately.

3. Surgical Methods

     - Surgical methods of contraception involve undergoing an operation to physically alter either male or female reproductive systems to avoid pregnancy. 

Consumer Culture

Culture refers to the behavior and traditions found in human societies. Thus, consumer culture involves humans establishing certain norms and practices as consumers of goods and services. Consumer culture has evolved through the years. Phillips (2003) states that there are various studies made on consumers, some of which are as follows:

1. Some people envy those with higher social status for having a higher capacity to buy goods that they desire.

2. Rich people or people with higher status constantly change their consumption habits to continue having a distinguished image in society.

3. Consumer's choice of products reflects how they see their current selves or what they aspire to be.

4. Consumers choose products they value the most, provided they are presented with varied options.

5. A person's choice of products may represent their feelings, aspirations, and personality.

6. The choice of products and services may reflect originality and send a message regarding one's status.

7. Certain individuals consider shopping and consuming services as leisure activities because of their wealth and freedom to choose.

The spiritual self, according to William James, is who a person is at the core. This is the aspect of the self that is most intimate, concrete, or permanent and includes an individual's personality, core values, and conscience that do not just change throughout one's life. The spiritual self can be explored through the process of introspection, which involves looking inward and analyzing deep spiritual, moral, and intellectual questions disregarding objectivity.

The Dungan Iloilo

According Demetrio et al. (1991), dungan refers to the soul that is typically invisible. Before entering a human body, it is believed to be living on earth with other dungans while it waits to get inside a body. Its special interest is in the unborn, preferably a relative that it chooses to inhabit.

Moreover, the dungan is believed to grow together with the body. It is described to be weak during infancy, which is why it needs to be nurtured and protected. A healthy dungan of an adult has excellent physical health, intellect, and senses.

Strong willpower implies a strong dungan. This implies having intelligence and psychological abilities to convince and influence others according to one's manner of thinking. This explains the reason why two individuals living together may lead to a spiritual competition or a competition between two dungans where the defeated one has the weaker dungan.

The dungan may also leave the body either voluntarily or involuntarily as presented in the following instances:

• when a person is asleep and sees himself/herself in his/her dreams when a person is abruptly awakened

• when a body is physically maltreated or beaten

• when a child is frightened

• when the dungan is caught by a bad spirit or engkanto

Rules and Ceremonies

Rituals are defined as a kind of ceremony that employs a series of activities that use gestures, words, and objects when performed. Manifestations of rituals include the following: 

Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft

The political self refers to the aspect of the self that is interested and is willing to get involved in the realm of politics. The political self points to a political consciousness, which refers to one’s awareness about politics.

There are people who claim to be passive or express apathy when it comes to politics. This attitude may stem from two ideas of being uninvolved in politics, possibly due to a lack of exposure and/or understanding of those who are considered to be intrinsically involved in politics. Thus, politically conscious people are those who are aware of their density and roles involving politics.

The citizens of a country are always called to participate in politics, either directly or indirectly.

An article by Jan van Deth (2016) stresses how democracy uniquely emphasizes the participation of ordinary citizens in a country's political affairs. The prevailing challenge for many politically citizens of a democracy is to encourage passive and apathetic people to participate in politics.

The following are examples of specific of actions undertaken by effective political advocates:

1. Believe. In order to convince someone about an advocacy, one must make them believe in it. To be able to do that, advocates must first firmly believe in themselves and their advocacy. However, before spreading any information, one must do intensive research about facts and realities.

2. Be informed. It is important to go out and learn about politics and actual events happening around oneself. Encouraging other people to know more about politics is also a good way to spread relevant information.

3. Discuss issues. The media has been helpful in spreading information about politics. This encourages people to be aware and discuss issues and possible solutions to the country's problems.

4. Get on the record. One can involve themselves in politics by expressing opinions and ideas and participating in actions concerning politics.

5. Be a resource. People with special talents or expertise are encouraged to reach out to others and share their contributions to politics and the country, at the same time, be an inspiration to others.

6. Volunteer. Involving oneself in community activities is important because there are always people who need help and service.

7. Contribute. Contributing to the betterment of the country in any way can bring significant improvements. Even simple engagements or awareness can be a service to one's country and its people.

The digital self is the aspect of the self that one projects online and engages in the internet though surfing, playing games, researching, creating accounts for emails, blogging, shopping, engaging in social networking sites, and more. The current age is digitally immersed where even cellular phones are connected to the internet for efficient access to information and communication.

Furthermore, according to technology historian George Dyson (2012), the digital age or digital universe is growing at a rate of 5 trillion bits per second in storage and two trillion transistors per second in the processing. This statement implies highly updated and growing digital capacities of this age. Thus, there is a challenge that arises in managing this fast and growing avenue where the world of humans is being penetrated and affected in various ways.

Boundaries of the Self Online

The concept of a public sphere can be traced from the 18th century where the civil society expressed their opinions and interests. At present, the internet serves as public sphere such that it becomes the avenue for public opinion that is shaped and shared without censorship. The private sphere, on the other hand, relates to a home or a family.

To illustrate this, social networking sites provide settings that allow a user to choose whether to go private or public. The private setting limits the viewing of one's profile only to users who are within one's approved circle of friends or followers, while the public setting allows everyone to view a user's account.

Another take on boundaries online is the existence of public and private identities. There are individuals who feel comfortable sharing everything online, while there are those who choose to be private. Having a public profile serves as an open invitation to view a person and their life. However, ultimately, it is the choice of the users what to include or exclude in their online profiles as having one can be a form of self-expression.

This promotes objectivity in finding ways to improve your performance. Remember it is always good to learn from your experience.

The main point of reflection is to lead one to plan for the next tasks by applying what was learned from one's experiences. 

Bandura introduced another concept called outcome expectancy. He stated that a person's ta regarding outcome eption vior ma affect performance. One may be able to determine the success depending on their perception of how well they perform in a given situation. When the outcomes are attained, this will positively influence self-efficacy. Failure may negatively affect motivations. Futhermore, the meaning attached to a certain goal leads one to be highly motivate ativation. harder to achieve set goals. 

Evidence suggests that the more difficult the goals set are, the harder a person strives to achieve them. Goals are also said to affect the impact incentives and feedback have on performance. It can be observed that one's level of performance is directed by certain goals set where rewards may be given to deserving employees.

Locke also described goals as "a specified level of efficiency in a certain area, usually to be reached under a time limit." The following are two characteristics of goals as mentioned by Locke: 

Many seminars and trainings promote the need to formulate SMART specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) goals; however, Dr. Edwin Locke states that any individual or employee may be more motivated to have specific and clear goals when given proper feedback on performance.

Using words motivation as "try harder" or "do your best" is less effective compared to using phrases that are more specific and goal-oriented such as "try to get more than 80% correct"

"concentrate on beating your best time." Furthermore, having goals that are too easy can diminish their motivational value. Difficult goals, on the other hand, can be highly motivating because a person can have a fuller sense of accomplishment if they have to work hard to achieve something.

He further stated that if a person is working toward a goal, it provided them a major source of motivation to achieve the goal, thereby improving their performance.

The following five principles of goal setting can guide one in setting and achieving goals: 

As a student and an adolescent at the same time, one may discover that stressors can come from within such as one's attitude and perception, having unrealistic expectations, changes, and intense emotional experiences such as having fear and anxieties with one's situations. One of the causes of stress, identified by author Bo Sanchez in his article titled "Are Negative Emotions Causing You To Get Sick", is emotions, and according to his research, 85% of a person's diseases are caused by them. 

Listing down the things that keep one busy can help them identify which activities take up most of their time. This activity can help determine the seriousness and meaning of one's activities. Furthermore, it can give a person feedback regarding the status of a particular activity.

It can also make one aware if they are stressing too much about certain activities; thus, it could make them realize that they should take things one at a time. 

1. Relax and engage. Leisure activities such as meditation, contemplation, getting a body massage, listening to relaxing music, engaging in a hobby can help reduce stress levels.

2. Break down tasks into small pieces. Organizing a schedule or a checklist of priorities can help a person achieve tasks better.

3. Laugh more often. Laughing releases positive energies, which explains the existence of the expression "laughter is the best medicine" out of you. Some cultures even have "laughter rooms" to let their stress out.

4. Decrease negative self-talk. Negative talks about the self builds up negative energy that may lead to decreased motivation to improve oneself. Lessening or avoiding negative self-talk is important to keep one's stress levels at bay.

5. Avoid illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

6. Exercise and eat healthy food regularly.

7. Learn a skill. Having various skills can help prevent stressful situation form happening, for example, public speaking or performing in front of a crowd.

8. Practice assertion. Being assertive, rather than aggressive, for example, in properly and tactful giving negative feedback to a person can help reduce the stress levels of both parties (e.g., "I felt disappointed when you arrived very late for our meeting" as opposed to "Please stop being late").

9. Build a support group. Being in a group that one can relate to on an emotional level is important for everyone. Some people join groups that engage in activities that build people's self-esteem. Moreover, bonding with people can give a person the opportunity to be listened to during difficult times.

10. Focus on serving than pleasing others. Serving others makes a person think less of themselves and more of others. Serving people rather than pleasing others can build a person up better. 

These are just a few coping strategies that one could engage in. Daniel Goleman (1995) states that each person has their own unique way of managing or coping with emotions to manage stressful situations in life. What one may find to be a good coping mechanism may not be suitable to another person. Thus, it is improper to impose certain coping mechanisms on other people. A better strategy is to provide people options which they can choose from. 

1. Dalamhati. This is a blend of two words dalam, a Malayan word meaning inside, and hati, meaning the heart or the liver. This is believed to be an emotion that can consume a person.

2. Nerbyos. This does not literally mean being nervous; rather, it refers to an experience of hypertension or high blood pressure, which may not be immediately identified by any healthcare professional. This shows the Filipinos' tendency to associate certain body experiences with unrelated body parts.

3. Bangungot. This is taken from two words, bangon, meaning to rise, and ungol, meaning to moan. This refers to "sudden deaths, usually at night, associated with nightmares." Many Filipinos deem bangungot as a mysterious cause of death; however, it could be caused by various intense stressors that may have occurred prior to sleeping. It is often asociated with men, possibly because of the suppression of emotions and distress that could lead to nightmares or worse, death.

4. Namamahay. This points to the special attachment to their home.

5. Being poor. The state of having limited resourced is in ear to atty Filipinos as constipation that a person experiences when they far from home. The tea of in homesteckness is described with homs such as insomnia and Being. These of commuting every day, undersing wy affic, breathing in they face thest dealing with strict bosses, among others including attending to the needs of their husband and cevated ruthermore being poor limits one's access to god health care. They may also shildren. Putting on self-esteem, which contributes to the fast deterioration of their

6. Droughts and typhoons. Farmers experience stress and fear because of these climate

7. Urban Employment. This could be challenging and stressful as Filipinos might encounter tyrannical and abusive bosses, as well as being exposed to toxic office, gossip.

8. Having extended family. This could be stressful because it may mean more mouths to feed, more noise, and different personalities to adjust with.

9. Overseas workers. There are times when overseas workers are discouraged to come home because they are empty-handed and confronted by relatives who expect gifts upon their arrival. Thus, they find the need to extend their stay to accumulate more goods to bring home.

10. Sensitivity to odors. Filipinos can be very sensitive to odors, which could cause stomachaches. However, as a culture, Filipinos have the tendency to smell everything and whatever smells good they indulge in excess. 

Filipinos have various ways of coping with stress such as the following:

1. People generally go to medical doctors to relieve themselves from headaches and other physical discomforts caused by stress. However, they are usually aware of the limited capacity of a check-up when dealing with the source of stress. Drinking vitamins also helps expel harmful chemicals produced by stress.

2. Some people also engage in de-stressing activities such as yoga, meditation, massages, and aromatherapy. However, some of these can be too expensive for lower-income individuals.

3. Many Filipinos can manage noise well because they are used to the noise of jeepneys, malls, video karaoke, and loud conversations with friends and family members. This is considered fun for Filipinos; however, other cultures can find these activities too loud for their comfort.

4. Some Filipino women resort to tiis, meaning endurance, and kimkim, meaning repression, during stressful situations. One may witness this happening among simple folks where men have a great time with friends while drinking beer to forget about their problems, while women resort to working hard to attend to the needs of the family.

5. Some Filipinos escape stressful situations by taking dangerous drugs as a way to forget and discuss their problems. They look for sources of gratification and comfort which could lead to paranoia and, ultimately, psychosis.

6. Filipinos often manage stress by trying to be happy. The Filipino term "kasayahan" can mean social camaraderie which be a coping mechanism when responding to stressful situations such as the death of a love one.

Filipinos have proven to be resilient when confronting challenges; for instance, posts on social media show pictures where people smile in front of a camera while being rescued from a flood.

However, despite this characteristic, it is evident that Filipinos need real community support to assist them in managing their daily stressors. Other than support from the government and/or the community, they could also help themselves by engaging in activities that calm the mind such as sports, dances, arts, and so on.

Community organizations, with the assistance of the government, should equip Filipinos with the proper ways of managing stress. Resorting to drugs or violent behaviour may cause more damage to the person himself/herself, as well as the people surrounding him/her. Being resilient and courageous is important in facing life's realities to overcome stress and challenges. 

The statement "You can never give what you don't have" still remains relevant because of its depth and application. Being caring and compassionate toward other people always starts with self-care. 

Self - Compassion

Self-compassion means being compassionate and kind towards oneself. It is finding a way to respond to one's difficulties in order to ease one's struggles, sufferings, or challenges. Bobbi Emel, in his article, "Developing Self-Compassion & Learning to Be Nicer to Ourselves," states that "self-compassion creates a caring space within you that is free of judgment—a place that seize your hurt and your failures and soften to allow those experience with kindness and caring."

There exists a well-known piece of advice that states, "between being right and being kind, choose kindness." This allows the person to be kind to themselves by taking a break from competition and arguments and at the same time, being kind to others by allowing them to talk, feel accepted, and be heard.

Many tragic and devastating situations around the world intensify due to apathy. People should be more carin, understandable, and reasonable toward others during times of struggle and

challenges.

To learn more about being compassionate, Bobbi Emel cites Kristin Neffs ten-year research where she identified three ways to be more compassionate to oneself.