Self Compassion - February 2022
Self-Compassion. What is it and how can it help with our performance?
It is often easy for us to be compassionate with others. We will easily tell a teammate that a mistake is “Ok” and that next time it will be better. We cheer them on and for the most part interact with them in a positive way. However, when it comes to the way we treat ourselves it is usually the complete opposite. We are harsh, critical and we beat ourselves up. A lot of gymnasts I work with think that in order to improve, they need to be extremely critical of themselves, but it is quite the opposite.
So, what is self-compassion? Compassion is the ability we all have to show empathy, love, and concern to those who may be experiencing difficulties. Self-compassion is all about extending that same compassion back toward yourself, which is not always easy to do but it comes with many benefits.
Three Major Benefits of Self-Compassion:
According to Neff et al. (2007), people with self-compassion are less likely to be critical of themselves which is likely to lead to feeling less anxious or depressed. Self-criticism does the opposite. It makes us feel stuck and puts us in a downward spiral.
Practicing self-compassion increases motivation to self-improve, according to Breines and Chen (2012).
Practicing self-compassion not only has the ability to increase motivation but it can help us face challenges and deal with obstacles and setbacks in a healthier way.
So, next time you make a mistake, face a setback, or struggle, make sure you pause and pay attention to how you are talking to yourself. Then ask yourself, is this a way I would talk to a friend? If not, try changing that self-talk. It will likely feel awkward at first but keep trying and the benefits will start to show!