Self Compassion

At Moodify, we practice kindness and compassion and are constantly looking for ways to do little things to make eachother happy. You know, something like making a little Moodify Oatmeal for a coworker, or preparing their morning coffee just the way they like it.

We believe these little acts of kindness go a long way. They strengthen our relationships, show each other we care and when someone is having a bad day, and they offer a little lightness. As if that is not enough, it feels good to be kind. The endorphins kindness brings to the giver are just a little cherry on top.

That got me thinking about how I treat myself. And I have to admit, when I examined this I realized that I might not extend the same kindness and compassion to myself as I do to others.

Maybe I don’t need it? Well, turns out that is not the case. I did a little research and it turns out there are many studies that have proven that practicing self compassion is strongly linked to overall well-being. Self compassion can reduce depression, stress and can lead to increased happiness. One study mentioned that 75% of people who find it easy to be supportive and understanding to others score very low on self compassion tests. One researcher suggested that one of the simplest ways to start is to ask yourself “what do I need right now?”. We often ask “what do I need to do right now”. It is a simple word change but the authentic answer can be quite different.

Check out this self compassion test in the NYT. Link Here

Even before I got my results, the questions in the test made me pause for a moment and realize that I may not be as kind to myself and self compassionate as I am to others. I need to work on that, and I also need to make myself some Moodify Oatmeal. They will both make me happy and healthy.