My practice of self-compassion often starts with this statement: This is a moment of suffering. Suffering is part of life. May I be kind to myself in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need.

It helps me to pause, look at what is going on, and give myself the compassion I need at the time. This is an act of self-care and gentleness toward myself. This daily practice has become a critical part of my recovery journey.

But what is it exactly? Compassion is the ability we all have to show empathy, love, and concern to those who may be experiencing difficulties. With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we would give to a good friend. The three elements of self-compassion are self-kindness vs. self-judgement, common humanity vs. isolation, and mindfulness vs. over-identification. I recognize my imperfection, my humanness, and I am able see to identify the difficult moment without judging myself. That’s a lot to do and it’s a practice that does not come easily for me but I have been able to work on it over time.

Resources: www.self-compassion.org and the book Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristen Neff

Tanya D. is a Usui/Holy Fire® III Karuna Reiki® Master, Meditation Instructor, Spiritual Life Coach and Yoga4Sobriety Teacher Ambassador. Join her on Wednesdays at 5:30pm EST for Meditation4Sobriety. Find her @thepeacewecrave on Facebook/Instagram and at www.thepeacewecrave.com for all things recovery, reiki, meditation, and peace. Contact her at tanyad@thepeacewecrave.com.