Being compassionate – in the midst of it

“If you don’t love yourself, you cannot love others. If you have no compassion for yourself, you cannot develop compassion for others.” – Dalai Lama

We live in a surreal world. The news cycles bring to us real stories from around the world that befit the plot of a bizarre eccentric movie directed by a sadist. In the midst of it, our heart is filled with empathy, we suffer along with our fellow humans, though removed by distance and geographies. In these moments, the divide between self and others softens, the criticism and blame fades and we live a shared experience of compassion.

This vulnerability is testimony to our humanity. It is something to be cherished and held onto, because this is what ties us together and gives hope. This experience of vulnerability and compassion can be as a response to events on a world stage or close to home. And in the midst of it all, arises a need to be compassionate to ourselves, take care of ourselves.?

The first step towards finding the resilience in the face of distress is self-compassion.

Protecting the self, taking care of the self and nourishing the self, so that we may be able to continue to extend the same compassion to others.?

Practicing self-compassion is not being selfish.?It is not about being passive to what's going on. It is about building your own reservoir of kindness so that you draw on it to be helpful or even wishing well for others.?

It brings together all the heart qualities – loving kindness, appreciative joy and most importantly equanimity to all experience.?

Try these simple mindful self-compassion exercises through the next few days:

1. Label your worries:?Throughout the day, whenever you catch yourself worrying, label it – “Just worrying” “Just ruminating” “Just catastrophizing” and bring your attention back to the present moment.
2. Tech timeout?– Empower yourself by choosing no technology for 1 hour. Use that time to talk to a friend or read a book.
3. Me time space?– Take some time to declutter a corner in your home. Make it your own. Maybe put a plant or some knick knacks to make it your “me time space”.
4. Laugh?– Laughing immediately reframes our mind to a more positive mood. Watch a comedy or better still laugh with someone.?
5. Build one?self-care activity?you like into every day.?
6. Smile, breathe and have a slow day. Bring a sense of joy to everything you do.

Do share some of your self-compassion and self-care practices in the comments.