Are you your own worst critic? If you are a perfectionist or have black and white thinking, chances are you have struggled to practice self compassion at some point in your life.
It’s not bad to work hard or have high ideals - but when we lose sight of our humanity, our mental, physical and emotional wellbeing suffers. Everyone needs to practice grace, self compassion and self care.
The team at Happify have put together a fantastic infographic about a meditation that will help boost just that - it’s called Compassion Meditation, or Loving-kindness Meditation.
The idea is that by stopping, and practicing this for a few minutes everyday, we can boost our health, increase our resilience, and better show empathy to others.
This isn’t about manifesting your preferred reality, it’s about recognising your innate worth as a human. When you pause and give your brain and body permission to rest in this, you disrupt the cycle of strain and stress.
How does it work?
Practicing the meditation is easy. Just find a quiet place to sit, and repeat the phrases to yourself “May I be happy,” “May I be healthy,” and “May I be filled with ease.” Repeat this four times. By doing this, you are rewiring your neural pathways and giving your body permission to rest.
Then, say the same phrases about someone else in your life. You may choose a neutral person, someone you have conflict with, or everyone. The idea is that you increase your empathy and compassion, empowering you to better show this in everyday life.
Take a look at the science of Compassion Meditation below:
