what is self compassion

Self-compassion is the act of extending compassion to oneself in instances of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering. It is different from self-pity, which is a state of mind or emotional response of a person believing to be a victim and lacking the confidence and competence to cope with an adverse situation. Self-compassion is composed of three main elements: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Self-kindness involves treating oneself with care and understanding, while common humanity recognizes that challenges are a part of the human experience. Mindfulness is accurately perceiving ones thoughts, feelings, and experiences, without overidentifying with them. Research indicates that self-compassionate individuals experience greater psychological health than those who lack self-compassion. Self-compassion is positively associated with life satisfaction, wisdom, happiness, optimism, curiosity, learning goals, social connectedness, personal responsibility, and emotional resilience. Self-compassion exercises generally consist of either a writing exercise, role-playing, or introspective contemplation, and are designed to foster self-compassion.