Exercise

Be kind to yourself

The aim of this exercise is to give you the chance of nourishing and supporting your Self-Compassion. Self-Compassion is the ability to be kind and supportive towards ourselves, especially when we are going through difficult times.

There are numerous benefits of using Self-Compassion. For example, Self-Compassion increases the feeling of well-being, the ability of coping with stress, it improves the relationship with our body and our image, it enhances self-motivation and it also helps building better relationships.

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The idea that Self-Compassion is a skill which can be learn and that can be taught, has been offered by Kristin Neff and her team. Kristin Neff, psychologist and scientific researcher, outlined three fundamental elements of Self-Compassion:

Mindfulness: The awareness of our emotions and feelings;
Shared Humanity: The consideration that pain, sufferance and difficulties are shared by every human beings;
Self-Kindness: Kindness towards ourselves.

During this practice, please try to get in touch with those three elements in order to be kinder and more compassionate towards yourself: in this way you will learn how to contain the self-judgemental attitude that keeps you from experiencing a more fulfilling life.

This Self-Compassion practice is in Italian. An English version will be available soon.

Be kind to yourself. Always.

Author: Paolo Assandri is a HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologist and a UKCP Registered Full Clinical Psychotherapist. He is also a fully qualified Italian psychologist (Ordine degli Psicologi del Piemonte). He lives and works in London offering counselling and psychotherapy.

Warning:
This exercise is not intended to replace any kind of medical/psychological therapy. Its only purpose is to increase individual perception of well-being. If you need medical or psychological support, please contact a qualified health practitioner. Authors, producers, consultants involved in the production of this exercise are not responsible for any psychological or physical injury which could happen during or after completing the activity explained in this article.

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