Self-compassion not only benefits individuals but also enhances interpersonal functioning. It involves embracing pain with kindness, generating a sense of well-being rooted in the experience of being fully human, and striving towards one’s full potential.
Self-compassionate people have more emotional resources available to care for others because they provide themselves with care and support. Romantic partners describe self-compassionate individuals as being more emotionally connected, accepting, and autonomy-supporting, while being less detached, controlling, and aggressive than those lacking self-compassion (Neff & Beretvas, 2012).
The link between self-compassion and other-focused concern is strongest among meditators, who intentionally cultivate compassion for both themselves and others through practices such as loving-kindness meditation (Hofmann, Grossman, & Hinton, 2011).
Studies show that self-compassion is crucial for sustaining the act of caregiving and reducing compassion fatigue among professionals like counsellors (Shapiro, Brown & Biegel, 2007; Newsome, Waldo & Gruszka, 2012; Ringenbach, 2009). Treating oneself with care and compassion is a powerful way to enhance both intrapersonal and interpersonal well-being.
Reference:
Kristin D. Neff & Andrew P. Costigan, Psychologie in Österreich 2/3 | 2014
