10 Actionable Ways to Practice Self-Compassion Right Now

If you clicked on this article, there’s a good chance that you’ve been pretty hard on yourself lately and you’re looking for an opportunity to turn things around. With all of the challenges we’ve faced this year, isn’t it about time to cut yourself a break and practice some self-compassion?

Self-compassion is a positive self-attitude that includes forgiving yourself for mistakes, accepting your flaws, and celebrating your accomplishments. Think about how you treat your best friends. Are you practicing the same compassion towards yourself that you extend to those you love?

If the answer is “no,” then you should know that you aren’t alone. Many of us struggle with self-compassion and fostering kindness towards ourselves. But you deserve to treat yourself with the same love and appreciation that you share with the world around you.

That’s why we’ve compiled this list of ten unique techniques that will help you foster self-compassion right now so that you can start building a better, more loving relationship with yourself.

10 Ways to Practice Self-Compassion Right Now

While developing self-compassion may take time, there are certain things you can do right this very moment to start building your self-esteem and raising your vibrations.

1. Balancing the Chakras

When our chakras are out-of-whack, it’s much easier for us to be harder on ourselves than usual. And it’s particularly difficult to focus on your positive attributes and accomplishments when your body’s energy is not flowing properly.

To boost your mood immediately, try practicing a guided meditation that balances the chakras. When your chakras are aligned, it’s easier to be more forgiving, accepting, and understanding of yourself.

Start balancing your chakras at the base: A Root Chakra Meditation to Balance & Ground Yourself.

2. Working with Crystals

Crystals possess unique energies that align with the energy of our bodies and help us feel more balanced. Rose quartz in particular is one of the best crystals to work with when you want to amplify self-compassion.

Rose quartz is a beautiful pink stone that connects to the Heart chakra and promotes unconditional love – both towards others and yourself. Try holding a piece of rose quartz in your left hand, closing your eyes, and imagine self-love and self-acceptance washing over your body.

3. Make A List

Have you ever tried making a list of the things you love about yourself? Your accomplishments? The attributes that make you so unique? The ways you’ve helped people in the past?

If you need a boost of self-compassion, it helps to make a list of all of the things about you that make you feel happy and proud of yourself.

Include even the smallest details. For instance, if it’s been harder than usual to get out of bed and get dressed lately, celebrate yourself on a morning that you managed to wake up early and get a nice, relaxing shower in.

Celebrate yourself and the times that you helped your friend get through a bad time emotionally. Write down your favorite physical features, from your eyes to your toes. If you need daily reminders try creating your own affirmation cards to remind yourself of all the good that is in your mind, body, and soul.

4. Give Yourself A Hug

This one might seem or even feel silly at first, but it’s one of the most effective ways to boost self-compassion. Think about how comforting a hug can feel, how it fills your spirit with love and joy.

Now try to remember how hard you’ve been on yourself lately. How would you comfort a friend who’s going through a hard time or someone who you might have accidentally snapped on during a moment of stress?

Self-hugging can help reset your thoughts and simulate human connection in a way that has many benefits (including relieving pain, improving mood, and instilling security within us).

Try it: Seated comfortably, wrap your arms around yourself, and embrace the healing energy your own love supply can encourage. Hold the hug for as long as you’d like and try different movements like rocking.

5. Take A Relaxing Bath

One of the best ways to encourage self-compassion is by taking care of your mind, body, and soul. And sinking into the healing waters of a scented bubble bath can engage all three of these aspects of yourself.

Grab yourself a bath bomb, some essential oils, bubble bath solution, your favorite crystals, and a playlist with the most relaxing songs you enjoy. Place the crystals on the edge of the bathtub, put your playlist on, run a hot bath, throw your bath bomb in, and sink into the bubbles.

Let the healing warmth of the water relax your muscles. Let your energy flow and allow the good vibes to soak into your body, allowing your emotions to heal. Try to think of positive things about yourself as you allow the water to penetrate your spirit and cleanse your aura.

6. Get Creative

Sometimes we’re harder on ourselves when our minds are racing with thoughts of frustration and negativity. Finding a creative outlet can help you release these distracting thoughts, clear your mind, and allow your soul to focus on the positive energy that you bring into and share with the world.

Pick up a guitar and write a song. Paint your feelings on a blank canvas. Write a poem about your best attributes and features. Make a collage of the things you want to manifest in this life.

Creative energy has healing power, and giving yourself an outlet for your frustrations will help you focus more on your positive traits and beautiful energy.

7. Write It Out

Journaling is an excellent activity for building self-compassion, especially because it allows you to explore your thoughts. Sometimes we get lost or distracted from our center because it feels easier to ignore our deeper thoughts and emotions than to pay attention to them.

Journaling, however, gives you a special outlet that allows you to explore the inner world of yourself in a safe and healthy manner. Buy yourself a beautiful new notebook and a special pen that you feel connected to and dedicate it to celebrating yourself.

Read next: How Journaling Heals Mental Blocks

8. Dance, Dance, Dance

Physical exercise is a great way to connect to your body, heart, and soul – but what’s more fun than dancing like no one is watching? Put your favorite tunes on and let your body move to the music! You may be surprised at how capable and lighthearted you feel after busting a move on the (living room) dance floor.

Moving your body gets endorphins flowing and helps you feel more excited about both life and yourself. Embrace your moves, allow your body to flow, and have some fun!

9. Tell Yourself Positive Things

When we’re not building self-compassion, we’re overly self-critical. You might find yourself saying negative things about yourself, or even picking on yourself. While it may not feel natural to try to change this habit, it’s important that you start telling yourself positive things about who you are.

You could try repeating the phrases that you wrote about yourself earlier. Positive affirmations will help you build your self-confidence and focus on your best qualities.

10. Talk to A Friend or Family Member

Sometimes we get so emotionally down that we need the support of others to help us rise up and focus more on positivity. However, the hard part is allowing ourselves to reach out. If you’ve been dragging yourself down or being overly critical on yourself, you may start feeling like you don’t deserve support.

As humans, we are pack animals, and we need the love and support of others to function. You may feel like you’re bothering someone by reaching out for help, but think about how you would treat a friend if they were in your position. Would you rather that person deal with their struggles on their own, or would you prefer that they talk to you about what they’re going through?

Additionally, your friends and family can remind you of your good qualities and the love and light that you bring into the world.

You Deserve Compassion

While you may feel down in the dumps right now, you deserve happiness and peace, and it’s time to grant yourself these emotions. Being hard on yourself won’t motivate you to get things done, but rather make you feel even worse.

It’s time to rise up, to celebrate yourself, and to give to yourself the compassion that you deserve!

Practicing self-compassion will lift your vibrations and make you feel more capable of all the things you want to accomplish in this life. So, try to think of the activities that will make yourself feel more self-love and self-compassion – even if the activities on this list don’t personally speak to you.

Do what is right for you. You deserve it!

Related article: 3 Easy Way to Improve Low Self-Worth