We all make mistakes; some people are just better at dealing with them. If you beat yourself up over a lost job, an argument with a loved one, or blame yourself for a major loss, the stress could be harming your health and wellbeing.
When things go wrong, it can hurt. But if you can’t let go and continuously hammer yourself for it, the pain can influence your relationships, along with your physical and mental health.
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Practicing self-compassion can prevent these problems. When you forgive and care for yourself, you can improve cognitive function and heart health, derive more enjoyment from life, and lower levels of anxiety.
Self-compassion is not necessarily an inherent skill. It can be learned and practiced by anybody. A few ways you can boost self-compassion include:
Caring for your body: Eating a healthy diet, lying down for a rest, going for a walk, or getting a massage can all help relieve stress and improve mental and physical health. Anything you can do to improve how you feel physically can promote self-compassion,
- Write to yourself: If a particular event has caused you to feel bad about yourself, take a moment to write to yourself. Describe the situation—without anger or blame directed towards anybody (or yourself). This exercise can help you understand and form feelings.
- Talk to yourself: How would you encourage a good friend if they were feeling the same way or about to face a stressful situation? Tell yourself the same things when you need to be compassionate towards yourself.
- Try mindfulness meditation
It’s easy to forget about caring for yourself in troublesome times, but it is required. Doing things to make things easier on yourself can help you get through stressful times, move beyond the things that weigh you down, and potentially improve overall health.
Stress and anxiety can lead to cognitive and physical health issues, and self-compassion is a useful tool to combat them.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
