Self-compassion is the ability to be kind to ourselves.
And it is a crucially important part of healing from mindbody symptoms.
Self-compassion meditations were one of the ways that I helped to develop this sense of kindness and compassion towards myself.
If I had to pick just one meditation that’s been the most helpful for me on my healing journey, it’s Loving and Listening to Yourself by Sarah Blondin on Insight Timer.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve listened to this, and I’ve lost count of how many times it’s made me cry.
This meditation touches on the emptiness inside me that my symptoms were trying to mask. It reminds me how how I’ve abandoned myself over and over again for so many years by losing myself in other people, or unhealthy habits, or substances that numbed me.
This meditation brings me home and reminds me that having kindness, compassion, and love for myself is ultimately the way I set myself free.
The same is true for all of us who are suffering with mindbody symptoms. Learning to love and value ourselves is a huge and crucial part of healing.
But self-love can feel impossible for many of us.
If the idea of loving yourself seems out of reach, start with self compassion. Imagine you are talking to a friend who is suffering and think what you’d say to comfort them. Then say those words to yourself. It might feel weird, or crazy. But you need to hear it.
You need to show the sad, angry, wounded parts of yourself that they are understood, forgiven, and loved. Because those parts of you that have been left behind are hurting, and they are causing your suffering.
Learn to love them and listen to them, and they won’t need to use symptoms to try and get your attention anymore.