Can you do something nice for yourself? Try this self-compassion exercise.
Here’s an exercise in self-compassion especially for those who feel guilty about doing nice things for themselves. In my youth in Ireland we were told that good Irish Catholics should engage in ‘self-mortification’ which is giving yourself a tough...
Mirror, mirror on the wall – the most important relationship of all?
In my work in the area of mental health, especially as a counsellor, I have been struck by the importance of the relationship with ourselves. Much of our preoccupation surrounds our relationships with others but the relationship with the self plays a very big role in...
Too hard on yourself? Maybe you’re channelling someone else’s life.
The concept of ‘channelling’ is one I first heard of in relation to psychics transmitting the thoughts and emotions of the dead. Most channelling involves the living as well as the dead – falling into the trap of judging yourself according to someone...
Greater demands in a harsher world? What’s behind the growing interest in self-compassion?
When I began to write and think about self-compassion in 2015, the concept generated less interest than it does today. Self-compassion as a practice was becoming part of the mindfulness movement but outside that arena not much was heard about it. Now, in the lead-up...
Choices? They’re not all free so a little self-compassion may be called for
“You’ve made your bed and now you must lie in it.” This is one of the most un-compassionate phrases we can use to ourselves or to others. Usually it means it’s time to pay for your choices and you can expect no sympathy from me. Of course we...
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