Self-compassion: Being kind to yourself in the midst of struggle; creating space to hold softly what you are feeling.
Something I see all the time in my research and writing and talk about frequently in my coaching practice is the need to marry fierce self-discipline with fierce self-compassion.
On sustainable success, peak performance, and career advice.
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Self-compassion: Being kind to yourself in the midst of struggle; creating space to hold softly what you are feeling.
Self-discipline is your fuel as you move forward on your respective path. Self-compassion is your guard-rail: it keeps you on course when you go astray.
Why? Simple.
If when you fail you are judgmental and beat yourself up all you are doing is wasting energy. If you are kind to yourself, you can simply get up, adjust, and go again.
If you cultivate strong self-compassion you can take risks and fail and go to hard places knowing you can hold it all and still be okay.
It doesn't make hard things less hard; it makes you more able to handle them. (See work: @DennisTirchPhD)
Notice when you are being harsh on yourself. How does it make you feel? What would it look like to change that self-talk?
This isn't about brushing off every misstep. It's about not wasting energy beating yourself up.
We tend to be much kinder—and equally important, much wiser—when we are looking out for our friends than when we are looking out for ourselves.
A mantra I use all the time, with myself and my coaching clients. It snaps you out of your head and puts you back into the present moment. Also, if it's not true, you realize that immediately and make it true.
