I’ve recently completed a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology (Yey!!!). BUT… let me tell you…the lessons learned through the process, where much more than intellectual.
I know that I could have NEVER completed that degree without practicing self compassion 
and self care. I would have burned out trying to juggle family life, school work and client work. The journey wasn’t easy. More often than not, it was it was a real struggle. The more deadlines and challenges, the more my type A personality would kick in (Yikes!).
The more tired I felt, the more challenging I found it to practice compassionate self care. I had two strong voices battling out inside my head. One voice said: “Push yourself a little more. You can do it.” And the other voice said: “Rest, restore, take break.”
Because the struggle was real, I created an action plan to help myself stay true to my believes.
- I created a list of restorative activities for myself, and posted it in my fridge.
- I scheduled daily time for rest and loving care (and I respected that time).
- I used sticky notes around my home and office to remind myself about self compassion and self care (LOTS AND LOTS OF STICKY NOTES).
- I asked my loved ones to point out when they noticed me spinning with stress. They reminded me to slow down.
When I talk to clients about self compassion and self care, I speak from personal and professional experience. I understand the struggle. But … I also believe that it is possible to live life with a self compassionate mind.
I share my personal action plan with you NOT because I want to show off how I got it all figured out. I hope that’s not what I’m conveying here! I share it with you, to inspire you to create your own. It needs not to be complicated and long. Short and easy is best.
We live in a time and place where we are pushed to: produce more, get more, buy more, be more (whatever that may mean). The insatiable societal push to “be and have more” has a real negative impact on our mental and physical health.
And so today, I’d like to end these thoughts with an invitation to ponder. How self compassionate are you? How committed are you to treat yourself with compassionate self care?
I invite you give these questions some time. The practice of self compassion and self care has a tremendous positive impact in our lives. It is worth considering and even more worth putting into practice. 