Self-compassion is the way of showing sensitivity and acceptance towards oneself in one's relationship with one's inner world. This concept refers to understanding and accepting oneself and being compassionate towards thoughts about the self. Self-compassion is the ability to approach oneself with understanding without criticising or blaming oneself when one experiences negative emotions or makes mistakes.

What is Self-Compassion?

We can talk about three critical elements that make up the concept of self-compassion. These are; awareness, common humanity consciousness and self-kindness. Their explanations are as follows

• Awareness: It is the individual's recognition of his/her own feelings, thoughts and experiences. This awareness brings about a more open and understanding approach to internal processes.
• Common Humanity: It is the awareness of recognising that each individual is a part of the experience of being human and experiencing common feelings, difficulties and experiences with other people. This understanding helps the individual to establish a bond even when he/she feels lonely or isolated.
• Self-kindness: It is the capacity to display a kind, loving approach while accepting one's own mistakes, weaknesses and shortcomings. This includes moving away from perfectionism and making peace with imperfections.

The Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Work Life

Self-compassionate awareness in business life enables individuals to avoid negative judgements against themselves in the face of difficulties and pressures. Individuals with high self-compassion awareness evaluate their mistakes or the processes of overcoming difficulties in business life in a more prudent manner. This approach allows the individual to transform himself/herself from a mind structure closed to criticism to a structure open to continuous development and learning.

Compassionate individuals overcome the fear of making mistakes and manage possible criticism more easily. At the same time, they contribute to the spread of critical values such as empathy, trust and emotional resilience within the team they work with.

Can the Challenges of Business Life be Reduced with Self-Compassion?

The challenges we face in business life can affect us both physically and emotionally. self-compassion practices have an important role especially under intense work tempo, high expectations and constantly changing working conditions. This is because it can reduce stress, increase motivation and provide a more balanced working life. Some tips to help you overcome difficulties in business life with self-compassion strategies can be listed as follows:

Getting to Know Yourself

Firstly, it is important to recognise your own limitations, strengths and areas for development. This awareness will help you understand yourself better and manage your behaviour more effectively.

Positive Inner Speech

Using positive and supportive language in difficult times is the best compassion language we can apply to ourselves. If you motivate yourself with positive statements such as ‘I will try and learn’ instead of ‘I will not succeed’, you will approach the issue in a solution-oriented manner.

Taking a Break

Taking a break at a busy work pace is a practical way to rest your mind and renew your energy. Short breaks increase focus and reduce stress.

Accepting Mistakes

Everyone can make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from mistakes and avoid blaming yourself. See your mistakes as a learning opportunity and keep moving forward. In this way, you will develop your sense of self-compassion.

Not Being a Perfectionist

Being a perfectionist all the time can put you under unnecessary stress. You should show yourself flexibility from time to time and be as far away from perfectionism as possible.

Physical Activity

Regular exercise is an effective way to reduce stress, improve mental health and build self-esteem. By making time for physical activity a few days a week, you will feel more energised and motivated.

Meditation and Mindfulness Practices

Meditation and self-compassionate mindfulness practice calms your mind, reduces stress and helps you maintain emotional balance. By calming your mind with short daily meditation sessions, you can minimise the problems you experience at work during the day.

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