Compassion is sensitivity to the suffering of self and others and a commitment to do something about it.
— Paul Gilbert (a researcher at Kingsway Hospital in the United Kingdom) in Nixon (2011): Self-compassion may matter more than self-esteem
Robin Nixon has an excellent article on why “[…] self-compassion may be the most important life skill, imparting resilience, courage, energy and creativity.”
She cites the work of Kristin Neff who says self-compassion has three parts to it:
- mindfulness: accepting your thoughts and feelings without being carried away by them,
- common humanity: the recognition that everyone goes through similar hardships, frustrations and disappointments, and,
- being kind to yourself: by being aware (mindful) of your anguish, and recognizing that others have shared similar feelings, you can commit to actions that reduce suffering in the future.