Many of us really feel that there's some thing inappropriate with showing compassion in regards to our-self, as though it’s some kind of a blameful pleasure. We have a tendency to think that there is usually somebody out there who has it worse than we do. Maybe these ideas originate from our tradition…this notion that any of us should always put ourselves last and others initial. The irony however is that the nicer we are to ourselves, the closer we really feel to other individuals. For instance, when we are down on ourselves or beating ourselves up, we tend to crawl right into a hole and don't associate with from others…yet if we are kind and compassionate to ourselves, we are a lot much more secure and as a result a lot more connected to other people.
When the concern about self-compassion is that you are being selfish and only thinking of yourself, the truth is quite the opposite. We need to begin with ourselves…learn to be accepting of ourselves and our flaws…before we could be accepting of others. As our relationship to our self grows our relationship to others will grow in turn.
By an Austin Therapist.
