Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex condition that can have a profound impact on an individual's life. However, by cultivating self-compassion, individuals with PTSD can create a nurturing environment for healing and personal growth. In this lesson, we will explore the concept of self-compassion, understand its benefits, and learn practical strategies to cultivate self-compassion in the context of PTSD.
When we look at self-compassion what do you think about, most people think that when they are taking care of themselves, they are being selfish, but this truly isn’t the case. Self-compassion involves treating yourself with kindness, understanding and acceptance, especially during times of pain, suffering or failure.
It is a mindset that acknowledges our common humanity and extends compassion inwardly. There are always going to be things within this world that don’t live up to your reality, whether that is people or circumstances. When you learn that focusing inwards at the things that you have control over if you want them.
Like your thoughts, emotions, and actions. That is when you will begin to shift your life. Most times when something happens, we allow that situation to dictate how we are going to feel, and not say. To ourselves that regardless about what happens today I am going to be in control of my life’s operating system. (Which is your mind, emotions, and actions)
While self-esteem often relies on external validation and accomplishments, self-compassion focuses on self-acceptance and being kind to oneself, regardless of achievements. We all attach emotion to things, and the amount of attachment is through the amount of emotion that we permit to give to this event or situation.
There are 3 key components to self-compassion and when using these your life will begin to shift, and you will learn to love yourself again.
First is Self-kindness, which is basically being gentle, understanding, and supportive towards oneself in times of difficulty. Most days we focus only on the past negatives and forget to be kind to ourselves, forgive ourselves and love ourselves again. Learning to understand that what you went through is one moment and to get past difficult times you have to learn to embrace self-compassion.
Secondly is Common humanity meaning recognising that suffering and struggle are universal experiences. You might be going through something unique to you, but you aren’t going through something unique within this world. It has happened to others before you and it will happen to others after you. When you can look at your experience like this you can begin to look for those who have gone through the experience and begin to rebuild your life too.
Third is mindfulness, maintaining a non-judgmental awareness of one’s thoughts and emotions, allowing them to be acknowledge and proceeded without self-criticism. We are our worst critics and going through a traumatic event causes most people to be harsher on ourselves, thinking that it was the ultimate failure to our lives, instead of a single mistake that we made.
Self-compassion also provides a foundation of self-support and care, which can enhance your ability to cope with and overcome future traumatic experiences. You see, when you are being self-loving and compassionate, you begin to grow into a better person. If someone that you loved was having a rough time after an experience, would you cut them down, call them a failure, that they shouldn’t try to move forward with life because they have already messed up, how can their future be any better?
NO, you would never say anything like that, at least I hope you wouldn’t, I expect that the people who read my messages have a real heart of love, that just wants to see the best in people. I know that is what I am after in my own life but when it comes to myself it can be a real challenge.
By adopting a self-companionate perspective, you can reduce self-blame, shame and guilt associated with PTSD symptoms and promote healing and growth. Loving yourself as a whole will show yourself that you are worthy of more and will begin to shift from the blame that you have within yourself about what happened in your past and know that you made a mistake but the mistake doesn’t make you.
Self-compassion also allows you to extend even more compassion and empathy to others, promoting healthier and more fulfilling relationships. I was reading a book today and it talked about how one of the main keys to life connection with others is. When you are self-compassionate you foster a growth, a deep growth of love to other people who have been through a similar experience as you, or even those who haven’t.
This should be something that you are working on every day, speaking to yourself in a supportive and nurturing manner, remind yourself that you are not alone in your struggles. This is an opportunity to connect with others in groups, seek therapy or engage with others who have similar challenges that you had.
Every Wednesday, I have a mastermind on zoom, come and join where we all share experiences and bring solutions to the table to help each other overcome the past and build a better future for ourselves.
Are you working daily on your mind? Are you engaging in mindfulness activities like mediation, breathing exercise, or body scans? You must do this to bring awareness to your sences to the problems in your life so that you can begin the rebuilding process.
If a construction Forman didn’t look for the finite details as he was building making sure there isn’t any cracks in the foundation, then the building would fall. The higher you want your life to go the stronger the foundation you have to be built on.
Keep moving yourself forward by paying attention to your today. When you are paying attention, you are going to have self-critical thoughts, and you must challenge these thoughts; are they really true? Was it one instant that you went through or is it who you are?
Our personality is our personal reality- Maxwell Maultz
You can change your personality whenever you want by paying attention to the negative self-talk with affirming and compassionate statements. Number 1 you need to pay attention to know that you are even having them.
Self-compassion is a powerful tool in nurturing healing and growth with PTSD, by practicing self kindness every day, you will begin to move into an area of love within yourself and an area of healing that you never realized that you could have.
Don’t wait another day, take this opportunity to love yourself again, and do it with kindness. √
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