60 Inspiring Quotes For Self-Compassion
As humans, we often show compassion to others when they're going through a difficult time. With time, we can read self compassion quotes to offer the same compassion we share for others.
We lend an ear, offer kind words, and do what we can to make them feel better. However, when it comes to ourselves, we tend to be much less compassionate.
We're quick to judge, criticize, and hold ourselves to impossibly high standards.
But what if we treated ourselves with the same kindness and compassion we offer to others? That's where self-compassion quotes come in.
Reading self-compassion quotes can be a powerful way to cultivate a more compassionate mindset towards ourselves.
These quotes offer gentle reminders that we are only human, and it's okay to make mistakes and struggle at times.
They encourage us to treat ourselves with kindness and to offer ourselves the same compassion we would offer a friend or loved one.
When I first started reading self-compassion quotes, I was struck by how much they resonated with me.
As someone who tends to be hard on myself, these quotes offered a much-needed shift in perspective.
They reminded me that self-compassion isn't about being weak or letting myself off the hook; it's about treating myself with the same understanding and kindness I would offer to anyone else.
Self-compassion quotes have been shown to have numerous benefits for mental health and wellbeing.
Research has found that practicing self-compassion can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and improve resilience and overall life satisfaction.
By incorporating self-compassion quotes into your daily life, you can start to build a more compassionate relationship with yourself and experience these benefits firsthand.
In this article, we'll explore some of the most inspiring self-compassion quotes out there and discuss how you can incorporate them into your daily routine.
Whether you're struggling with self-criticism, perfectionism, or simply want to cultivate a more positive mindset, these quotes can be a powerful tool for change.
So, let's dive in and discover the transformative power of self-compassion quotes.
22 Inspiring Self-Compassion Quotes
1. “To be a better person, spend less time filling out your personal scorecard and more time being kind . . . to you.” – Philip Chard
2. “Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.” – Christopher Germer
3. “To be self-compassionate is not to be self-indulgent or self-centred. A major component of self-compassion is to be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with love, care, dignity and make your wellbeing a priority. With self-compassion, we still hold ourselves accountable professionally and personally, but there are no toxic emotions inflicted upon and towards ourselves.” – Christopher Dines
4. “A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life.” – Christopher Germer
5. “Self-compassion is like a muscle. The more we practice flexing it, especially when life doesn’t go exactly according to plan (a frequent scenario for most of us), the stronger and more resilient our compassion muscle becomes.” – Sharon Salzberg
6. “Relax your heart and let go into the infinite ocean of love within you.” – Amy Leigh Mercree
7. “Question: How can you do onto others as you would like done onto you, if you are not compassionate toward yourself? Sure, it is important to be kind to others. But don’t forget to give yourself a break.” – Charles F. Glassman
8. “Talk to yourself like a cherished friend. Treat yourself with love and care. You are perfect, just as you are.” – Amy Leigh Mercree
9. “Unlike self-criticism, which asks if you’re good enough, self-compassion asks what’s good for you.” – Kristin Neff
10. “We can weather disappointment in ourselves better if we act kindly towards ourselves.” – Gina Simmons Schneider
11. “Your inner child is waiting for a genuine, heartfelt apology.” – Yong Kang Chan
12. “If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” – Jack Kornfield
13. “The power of self-kindness can help us to heal our chronic shame and self-loathing. In a world that is often mean-spirited and cruel, a daily practice of kindness and warm-heartedness can make all the difference.” – Christopher Dines
14. “Self-compassion is key because when we’re able to be gentle with ourselves in the midst of shame, we’re more likely to reach out, connect, and experience empathy.” – Brené Brown
15. “Nurturing your self compassion is anti-oppression work within yourself.” – Joy Donnell
16. “Be kind to yourself. Remember that when you abuse yourself, you will experience the anger, regret, and apathy of the bully as well as the depression, anxiety, and insecurity of the victim. Whatever you do, be kind to yourself.” – Vironika Tugaleva
17. “Circumstances vary; self-kindness does not. It is a constant.” – David R. Edwards
18. “To forgive, we may need to open our minds to a fuller exploration of the context in which the events occurred, and feel compassion for the circumstances and everyone involved, starting with ourselves.” – Sharon Salzberg
19. “Be nice to yourself… It’s hard to be happy when someone is mean to you all the time.” – Christine Arylo
20. “When we practice self-compassion in our lives, we are compelled to be more understanding and accepting toward ourselves.” – Jose Incer
21. “Drop the people who do not value you, respect you. Life has infinite horizons. Accept yourself, love yourself, and move forward.” – Amit Ray
22. “Always remember to give yourself the kindness, compassion and consideration you give to others.” – Miya Yamanouchi
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23. “And I said to my body softly, ‘I want to be your friend.’ It took a long breath and replied, ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.’” — Nayyirah Waheed
24. “Self-compassion is about treating yourself with kindness, care, support, and empathy in the same way you would treat a good friend who needs you.” — Rebecca Dolgin, Self-care 101, 2020
25. “Individuals who are more self-compassionate tend to have greater happiness, life satisfaction and motivation, better relationships and physical health, and less anxiety and depression.” — Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, The Transformative Effects of Mindful Self-Compassion, 2019
26. “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” — Brene Brown
27. “Self-compassion triggers people to adopt a growth mindset.” — Serena Chen, Harvard Business Review, 2018
28. “Remember, you’ve been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” — Louise L. Hay
29. “When we fully accept the reality that we are imperfect human beings, prone to make mistakes and struggle, our hearts naturally begin to soften.” — Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, The Transformative Effects of Mindful Self-Compassion, 2019
30. “Self-compassion cultivates authenticity by minimizing negative thoughts and self-doubts.” — Serena Chen, Harvard Business Review, 2018
31. “In other words, practice being a ‘compassionate mess.’” — Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, The Transformative Effects of Mindful Self-Compassion, 2019
32. “Self-compassion is an antidote to self-pity.” — Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, The Transformative Effects of Mindful Self-Compassion, 2019
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33. “Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” — Pema Chödrön
34. “The mark of a wild heart is living out the paradox of love in our lives. It’s the ability to be tough and tender, excited and scared, brave and afraid – all in the same moment. It’s showing up in our vulnerability and our courage, being both fierce and kind.” — Brene Brown
35. “People pleasers are generally the most unhappy people. They have exhausted themselves so much trying to be what everyone else wants them to be that they lose their sense of self. This often turns them away from compassion..” — Brene Brown, Nspirement, 2021
36. “You either walk inside your story and own it, or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.” — Brene Brown
37. “Compassion literally means “to suffer with,” which implies a basic mutuality in the experience of suffering. The emotion of compassion springs from the recognition that the human experience is imperfect, that we are all fallible.” — Kristin Neff, Embracing Our Common Humanity With Self-Compassion
38. “The recognition of common humanity entailed by self-compassion also allows us to be more understanding and less judgmental about our inadequacies.” — Kristin Neff, Embracing Our Common Humanity With Self-Compassion
39. “In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” — Buddha
40. “There is no empty room when the soul is full.” — Lama Norbu, Little Buddha, 1993
41. “Having compassion starts and ends with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves, all those imperfections that we don’t even want to look at.” — Pema Chodron
42. “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.” — Dalai Lama
43. “You deserve all the love and kindness that you give so easily to others.” — Unknown
44. “The research is really overwhelming at this point, showing that when life gets tough, you want to be self-compassionate. It’s going to make you stronger.” — Kristin Neff, BBC, 2021
45. “And so these folks had, very simply, the courage to be imperfect. They had the compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others, because, as it turns out, we can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.” — Brene Brown, The Power of Vulnerability, Tedx, 2010
46. “We can be more of the person we know is possible when we get in the habit of self-kindness.” — Tara Branch, Forbes, 2020
47. “Underneath every experience of distress, grief or anger is a longing for how you wish the world to be.” — Tim Desmond
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48. “‘You have peace’ the old woman said, ‘when you find it within yourself.’” — Mitch Albom
49. “The more we learn to relate to our inner life with compassion and embodied presence, the more that compassion and embodied presence naturally includes everyone else.” — Tara Brach, Greater Good Magazine, 2020
50. “Blocking, muting, deleting, unfollowing is self-care.” — Unknown
51. “I am gentle and loving to myself as I change and grow.” — Unknown
52. “Imagine if we obsessed about the things we loved about ourselves.” — Unknown
53. “When you get to a place where you believe that love and belonging, your worthiness, is a birthright and not something you have to earn, anything is possible.” — Brene Brown
54. “Self-love means valuing yourself as a human being, accepting yourself without conditions, and having a high regard for your own well-being by nurturing it physically, psychologically, and spiritually.” — Rebecca Dolgin, Self-care 101, 2020
55. “Remember that self-care is all about you. What works for one person may not work for another, but that’s the beauty of a self-care routine.” — Matthew Glowiak, South New Hampshire University, 2020
56. “Self-compassion motivates like a good coach, with kindness, support, and understanding, not harsh criticism.” — Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, The Transformative Effects of Mindful Self-Compassion, 2019
57. “Self-love is a life-long state of being. It’s an authentic and honest appreciation for yourself.” —Rebecca Dolgin, Self-care 101, 2020
58. “Self-care is how you take your power back.” — Lalah Delia
59. “Most of us have a good friend in our lives, who is kind of unconditionally supportive. Self-compassion is learning to be that same warm, supportive friend to yourself.” — Kristin Neff, BBC, 2021
60. “Many of us have so many responsibilities in life that we forget to take care of our personal needs.” — Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D., 2020
How Can Reading Self-Compassion Quotes Be Beneficial?
Reading self-compassion quotes can be beneficial in numerous ways.
Firstly, they offer a powerful reminder that self-compassion is an important part of overall wellbeing.
By regularly reading quotes that promote self-compassion, we can start to shift our mindset towards treating ourselves with more kindness and understanding.
Additionally, self-compassion quotes can help to reduce negative self-talk and self-criticism.
When we read quotes that encourage self-compassion, we are reminded that it's okay to make mistakes and that we don't have to be perfect all the time.
This can help to alleviate feelings of guilt or shame that often come with self-criticism.
Self-compassion quotes can also help to reduce stress and anxiety.
By practicing self-compassion, we learn to be more gentle and understanding with ourselves, which can help to reduce feelings of overwhelm and anxiety.
This can have a positive impact on our overall mental health and wellbeing.
Moreover, reading self-compassion quotes can also improve our relationships with others.
When we are more compassionate with ourselves, we are often more compassionate with others as well.
By cultivating self-compassion, we can build stronger and more supportive relationships with those around us.
Next Steps
Incorporating self-compassion quotes into daily life is a great way to cultivate a more positive and compassionate mindset.
Here are a few ways to incorporate self-compassion quotes into your daily routine:
- Write them down: Write down your favorite self-compassion quotes and post them somewhere visible, such as on your bathroom mirror or in your workspace. This way, you can see them every day and be reminded of the importance of self-compassion.
- Set reminders: Set reminders on your phone or computer to pop up throughout the day with a self-compassion quote. This can help to keep self-compassion top of mind and can be a helpful way to reduce negative self-talk.
- Use them in meditation: Incorporate self-compassion quotes into your meditation practice. Repeat them to yourself as a mantra or use them as a point of focus during your practice.
- Share them with others: Share your favorite self-compassion quotes with friends or loved ones. By spreading self-compassion, you can help to create a more compassionate and supportive community.
- Use them as journal prompts: Use self-compassion quotes as journal prompts to explore your own feelings and emotions. Reflect on how you can incorporate more self-compassion into your daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Importance Of Self-Compassion Quotes?
Self-compassion quotes are important because they can inspire individuals to treat themselves with kindness, acceptance, and understanding.
By reading and reflecting on self-compassion quotes, individuals can learn to acknowledge their own suffering without judgment, and develop a greater sense of empathy towards themselves.
This can help individuals cope with difficult situations, reduce self-criticism, and promote feelings of self-worth and self-esteem.
How Can I Use Self-Compassion Quotes In My Daily Life?
You can use self-compassion quotes in your daily life by finding quotes that resonate with you and displaying them in a visible place, such as on your phone or computer wallpaper, or on a sticky note on your desk.
You can also write down self-compassion quotes in a journal or diary, and reflect on them when you are feeling overwhelmed or self-critical. Additionally, you can share self-compassion quotes with friends or loved ones who may benefit from them.
Can Self-Compassion Quotes Help With Mental Health Issues?
Self-compassion quotes can be helpful for individuals who struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
By promoting self-acceptance and self-kindness, these quotes can help individuals develop a more positive and nurturing relationship with themselves.
However, self-compassion quotes are not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.
Individuals who are experiencing significant distress or impairment should seek support from a mental health professional.