Self-Compassion Vs Self-Criticism: Inspiring & Motivating Yourself Through Mamahood
Motherhood can be an incredibly challenging journey, and oftentimes women can feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and inadequate.
While criticism can be a powerful motivator, it can also be damaging to your self-esteem and overall wellbeing.
Self-compassion, on the other hand, offers a more effective and healthier approach to motivating a woman through the motherhood experience.
So, what is the difference between self-compassion and criticism?
Self-compassion is about being kind and understanding towards oneself, while criticism is about judging oneself harshly.
Self-compassion is about recognizing your own humanity and understanding that mistakes are a part of life. It involves accepting mistakes and learning from them instead of pushing them away or denying them.
Criticism, on the other hand, is about judging oneself harshly and can create feelings of shame, guilt, and inadequacy.
When it comes to motherhood, self-compassion is a conscious choice of engaging with yourself in a more positive, understanding, and accepting way.
It is not taking the easy way out, but instead involves recognising your own imperfections and working to improve them.
Self-compassion also helps to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety that can often come with motherhood, as well as the guilt that many women feel when they are not able to “do it all”.
One example of how you can choose self-compassion as a mother is by investing time, energy and attention for herself. This could include taking a day off from work to rest, or it could mean taking a few minutes each day to do something that brings you joy. Other examples of self-compassion include talking kindly to yourself, become your own best friend and champion yourself in both times of success and times of challenge, accepting one’s own mistakes without judgment or criticism. It can also involve asking for help when needed and taking breaks from the demands of motherhood. Honouring that you are doing an amazing job, you have many wonderful skills, talents and qualities that you bring to your family and you strive to be the best you can be, even in times of weakness and vulnerability.
Overall, self-compassion can make the experience of motherhood easier by reducing feelings of guilt and inadequacy, and by providing a more supportive and encouraging environment for yourself as well as the people you love and care about. It can help to create a more positive outlook on motherhood and can even help to motivate you to strive for your goals with the energy of love and kindness. The reward is so much sweeter when you achieve through love and kindness.
By choosing self-compassion instead of criticism, you are able to be more mindful of your own needs, and have a healthier and more fulfilling experience of motherhood.
Here are 5 simple, yet effective ways you can begin to engage with self-compassion on a daily basis in both big and small ways:
- Take time for yourself: Allowing yourself time to relax and practice self-care can be incredibly beneficial in maintaining your self-compassion. Whether it's taking a few moments to breathe deeply or a full day of indulgence, make sure you give yourself time to de-stress and focus on yourself.
- Talk to yourself kindly: Instead of being hard on yourself, take a moment to recognize your accomplishments and be gentle with yourself. Acknowledge your feelings and be kind to yourself.
- Focus on the present: Don’t get caught up in worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. Instead, focus on the present and how you can be kind and compassionate to yourself in the here and now.
- Ask for help: Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help when you need it. Whether it’s for emotional support, childcare, or something else, it’s perfectly OK to ask for help in order to practice self-compassion.
- Celebrate your successes: Don’t forget to take a moment to celebrate your successes, no matter how big or small they may be. Even the little victories can bring a sense of accomplishment and self-compassion.