Compassion Changes Everything
Dr. Christy Barongan is a psychologist practicing in Knoxville, TN. Dr. Barongan specializes in the treatment of mental health problems, and helps people to cope with their mental illnesses. As a psychologist, Dr. Barongan evaluates and treats patients through a variety of methods, most typically being psychotherapy or... more
Cultivating compassion begins with being compassionate towards yourself. Learning how to practice self-compassion will allow you to:
- Be less judgmental and critical of yourself
- Develop more effective ways of coping with pain
- Use your strengths and past successes to motivate yourself
- Be more accepting of your flaws, mistakes, and perceived weaknesses
- Have more compassion towards others
Once we learn how to practice self-compassion, we automatically become more compassionate towards others. This allows us to:
- Be more vulnerable in relationships
- Provide more positive feedback to others
- Experience deeper levels of connectedness
- Navigate conflicts more skillfully
- Be more accepting in the face of difficult situations
Because it is our natural tendency to be hard on ourselves and to motivate ourselves with judgment, shame, and fear, it takes time to cultivate self-compassion—just like it takes time to develop a healthier lifestyle. However, you may begin to notice small changes in your attitude toward yourself right away.
