Marci's Memo
Marci Cullivan, Mental Health Manager
During the month of February, we are bombarded with visions of red and pink, chocolate hearts and beautiful bouquets of flowers, we see a constant stream ideas of what we can give to loved ones to show our gratitude and love. These things make it easy for us to find just the right token to gift a family member or partner.
Our expressions of love aren’t complete if we don’t include ourselves. One way to do this is by learning about and starting a self-compassion practice. Dr. Neff states that “having compassion for oneself is really no different than having compassion for others. Think about what the experience of compassion feels like.” Self-compassion involves acting the same way towards yourself as you would towards a loved one when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself.
Here are 3 things you can do to develop self-compassion:
1. How would you treat a friend? How do you think things might change if you responded to yourself in the same way you typically respond to a close friend when he or she is suffering?
2. Changing your critical self-talk: By acknowledging your self-critical voice and reframing its observations in a more friendly way, you will eventually form the blueprint for changing how you relate to yourself long-term.
3. Taking care of the caregiver: As a caregiver you’ll need to recharge your batteries, so you have enough energy available to give to others. Give yourself permission to meet your own needs, recognizing that this will not only enhance your quality of life, it will also enhance your ability to be there for those that rely on you. When you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed when with the person you’re caring for, you might try giving yourself soothing words of support (for example “I know this is hard right now, and it’s only natural you’re feeling so stressed. I’m here for you.”)
For more information, you can visit : Self-compassion practices