38 Self Compassion Quotes to Inspire Kindness & Self Acceptance
One of the most important parts of self-care is self compassion. It’s also one of the greatest challenge people face. It’s not easy to be kind to yourself, especially during hard times, but it can make a huge difference in your life. We often criticize ourselves for our mistakes and put pressure on ourselves to be perfect. But we are all human and there is no such thing as perfection!
The following collection of quotes is all about self compassion and self acceptance, but first we will consider what is actually is and why the act of self-compassion is important for success in life.
What is self-compassion?
Self-compassion is the idea that we should treat ourselves with kindness, understanding and acceptance. This includes:
- noticing our feelings and not always judging them,
- giving ourselves permission to make mistakes,
- developing a sense of common humanity by imagining how others would respond in those same situations,
- doing things for one’s own well being, instead of always trying to do what is expected,
- questioning our thoughts and feelings and challenging those that don’t serve us well.
Why should we practice self-compassion?
Self-compassion has been shown to increase happiness levels and decrease feelings of anxiety and depression. It’s considering ourselves with a more gentler approach, as you would someone that you genuinely care for.
When we practice true compassion and acceptance of ourselves, we’re not lowering our standards but we’re instead allowing ourselves to be imperfectly human. From this mindset, we allow ourselves the opportunity for growth, rather than the possibility of being pessimistic in life.
Self-Compassion Quotes
“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” Louise L. Hay
“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
“Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.” Christopher Germer
“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.” Carl Jung
“Chasing a person doesn’t give you value or build values in you. You earn your value by chasing morality and practicing dignity.” Shannon L. Alder
“The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” Steve Maraboli
“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” Lao Tzu
“There’s no amount of self-improvement that can make up for a lack of self-acceptance.” Robert Holden
“If you do not respect your own wishes, no one else will. You will simply attract people who disrespect you as much as you do.” Vironika Tugaleva
“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” Mary Dunbar
“The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.” Mark Twain
“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.” E.E. Cummings
“Drop the people who do not value you, respect you. Life has infinite horizons. Accept yourself, love yourself, and move forward.” Amit Ray
“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs, and habits – anything that kept me small. Now I see it as self-loving.” Kim McMille
“When you say, ‘Yes’ to others make sure you are not saying ‘No’ to yourself.” Paulo Coelho
“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.” Malcolm S. Forbes
“Loving yourself…does not mean being self-absorbed or narcissistic, or disregarding others. Rather it means welcoming yourself as the most honored guest in your own heart, a guest worthy of respect, a lovable companion.” Margo Anand
It’s like a mother, when the baby is crying, she picks up the baby and she holds the baby tenderly in her arms. Your pain, your anxiety is your baby. You have to take care of it. You have to go back to yourself, to recognize the suffering in you, embrace the suffering, and you get a relief. Thich Nhat Hanh
“… you always seem to think you have to change, you think you have to improve yourself, to be like everyone else, to fit in, but can’t you see you’re perfect just the way you are?” Rebecca Raisin
“Most unhappy people need to learn just one lesson: how to see themselves through the lens of genuine compassion and treat themselves accordingly.” Martha Beck
“Self-compassion is critical in accountability. We often overcorrect by shaming and blaming ourselves or under correct by avoiding ways to face accountability directly. Using self-compassion does not mean letting yourself off the hook for missteps but owning them and still holding space to love yourself. Adding compassion to accountability processes decreases shame and isolation and increases growth and connection.” Gina Senarighi
“You can’t build joy on a feeling of self-loathing.” Ram Dass
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” Sharon Salzberg
“As I get older, the more I stay focused on the acceptance of myself and others, and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear.” Tracee Ellis Ross
“An important aspect of self-compassion is to be able to empathically hold both parts of ourselves, the self that regrets a past action and the self that took the action in the first place.” Marshall Rosenberg
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Maya Angelou
“Stop beating yourself up for beating yourself up.” Eleanor Brown
“When the norm is decency, other virtues can thrive: integrity, honesty, compassion, kindness, and trust.” Raja Krishnamoorthi
“Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience molds us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion. We are all in this life together.” Linda Thompson
“Talk to yourself as you would someone you love.” Brene Brown
“You have peace,” the old woman said, “when you make it with yourself.” Mitch Albom
“Self-approval and self-acceptance in the now are the main keys to positive changes in every area of our lives.” Louise Hay
“Self-acceptance begets acceptance from others, which begets even deeper, more genuine self-acceptance. It can be done. But no one is going to bestow it on you. It is a gift only you can give yourself.” Camryn Manheim
“There is lot of conversation about self-love nowadays, but how can we love ourselves if we do not consider ourselves worthy (we condemn ourselves, punish ourselves, sabotage ourselves, criticise ourselves, and constantly judge and devalue ourselves)?” Danijela Jokic Vaislay
“Compassion isn’t some kind of self-improvement project or ideal that we’re trying to live up to. 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
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love & affection.” Buddha
Practice Compassion
We hope that the above inspiring quotes will encourage you to consider how you treat yourself, and those around you. We can all use a kind word and encouragement, consider starting with yourself.
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