As women, it sometimes feels like we can only give ourselves a drop of love once we’ve done it all and have it all. But, what if we told you that you already deserve love, even before you tick everything off on your to-do list? This is where self-compassion and a self-care plan step in.
Self-compassion can be likened to a light that makes it easier to see through dark times. It’s a wisdom that recognizes that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. You accept that you are not perfect and that you make mistakes, just like everyone else. Like a bond, it interconnects us all as human beings.
The key to unlocking the door to self-compassion is mindfulness; you must first acknowledge that there is pain and that it can be healed. Regardless of your past, self-compassion along with a few self-care tips can help you to reconcile from years of self-judgment and self-criticism.
There’s a common misconception that feeling your emotions makes you weak. On the contrary, opening your heart to feel through them is empowering. You show yourself that if you fall, you are strong enough to get back up again. You learn to trust your decisions and your intuition. Ultimately, it restores your sense of grit.
Don’t know where to start? Begin cultivating self-compassion with our self-care tips below!
Pick an affirmation for self-compassion
Inviting change begins in the mind. As part of your self-care plan, welcome positive thoughts, such as affirmations, to plant seeds of kindness into your spirit.
Here are a few ideas:
“I trust myself and my decisions.”
“I love who I am. I love who I am becoming.”
“It’s okay to make mistakes. I'm growing and learning.”
As you repeat your affirmation, use a heart-shaped gua sha tool as a reminder to let in more self-love.
Make time to feel
It’s easy to put your emotions to the side in today’s fast-paced world. Instead of bottling them up, choose a time to sit with your mind, body and spirit to feel through it. How does this work? For example, let’s say you’ve recently gotten in a fight with a friend and you just feel like everything is all over the place.
The first step is to choose a designated time in the morning or afternoon. For about 15-25 minutes (or as long as you think you’ll need), give yourself the space to just be with what’s going on inside. It’s essential to be mindful here. This means being fully aware of your thoughts and actively feeling the emotions move through your body as each one comes up. Forgive your friend for the pain that she has caused you. Forgive yourself for anything that you might have said out of anger. Finish by dropping any negative thoughts that don’t serve your growth. Repeat as needed.
Don’t beat yourself up
How often do you find yourself imagining all of the “what if’s” and the “I should have’s”? Allow yourself to accept and make peace with the past. It’s all now a lesson learned. Releasing these kinds of thoughts can free up blocked mental space and let you go even deeper into your healing.
Be kind to your body
Soothe the voice in your head with a loving self-massage. With your hands, gently push out and loosen the negative energy that might be stuck in your muscles to make space for positivity. Remember the affirmation you chose earlier? Now is another perfect moment to repeat it. Massage a sweet and floral body oil all over to invite your senses and dive into a total sensory experience.
Remember the growth
Not only does facing tough times help you to become stronger, it also helps you to build more patience and respect for others and yourself. Think of pain as a power that can be used to fuel your growth. And, remember, next time you’ll be better prepared to weather the storm. After all, every cloud has its silver lining.
Pamper yourself unconditionally
Has your inner monologue turned a bit too critical? Literally bathe yourself in love with a self-love bath ritual!
From your head to your toes, send a caring force throughout your body, harnessing the power of love to alleviate any suffering. Notice how you feel once you’ve stepped out of the tub. No matter what, you deserve it.
Get even more inspiration for your self-care plan from our journal!
