RECOVERY IS A JOURNEY

Having compassion for yourself can be challenging given the messages you may have gotten from others and the negative beliefs you may still hold about yourself.

There are several benefits to self-compassion:

• COMPASSION FOR YOURSELF GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. SELF-COMPASSION WILL LEAD TO HAVING MORE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS AND WILL IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS.
• HAVING COMPASSION FOR YOURSELF ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO CHANGE AND EXPERIMENT WITH NEW WAYS OF BEHAVING AND FEELING, SUCH AS ASKING FOR HELP OR BEING MORE ASSERTIVE.
• PRACTICING YOUR NEW SKILLS WILL LEAD TO LESS FEAR IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE COMPASSION FOR YOURSELF AS A PERSON WHO IS LEARNING, GROWING, AND CHANGING.
• COMPASSION FOR YOURSELF SUPPORTS SUCCESS IN THE JOURNEY OF RECOVERY. THERE WILL BE LAPSES AND FAILURES, BUT THE MORE ACCEPTING YOU ARE OF YOUR SHORTCOMINGS, THE EASIER IT WILL BE FOR YOU TO FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS ON CHANGE. THE ENERGY YOU USED UP CRITICIZING OR DEFENDING YOURSELF CAN BE CHANNELED INTO THE WORK NEEDED TO REACH YOUR GOALS.

Consider your successes in this work and accept them. Consider your challenges and limitations and accept them too. Continue to work towards your goals with compassion for your past and your continuing struggles.