Cultivating Compassionate Relationships

Cultivating compassionate relationships is not easy. It's even more difficult to do it for yourself! We all want our friends and family to support us in various ways, especially during tough times. It's heartwarming when they do, because it shows that they care and that we are important to them. It also fulfills our basic human need for acceptance, love, and belonging.

We usually expect support and care from those they love and care about. It can be disappointing and upsetting when the people we count on aren't there for us when we need them the most. Many of us have this expectation of others, but we don't always have the same expectation of ourselves. We want others to celebrate our successes, comfort us when we're down, and support us through tough times, but we don't always know how to do those things for ourselves.

The "Cultivating Compassionate Relationships" Process

The process of showing up for yourself is a way to develop a kind and caring relationship with yourself. It involves accepting yourself, loving yourself, being compassionate towards yourself, and being aware of your own thoughts and feelings. It means being attuned to your whole self, paying attention to your inner signals, respecting your emotions, and understanding the messages they convey.

Understanding and acknowledging your need for connection, safety, or validation is important. It means knowing your own needs and being able to support yourself, as well as recognizing when it's necessary to seek support from trusted individuals in your life. It's a process of getting to know and accept yourself, flaws and all. It's also about learning when and how to stand up for yourself. Being there for yourself, even when others can't, is crucial, especially when they are dealing with their own challenges. It may be painful, but it's a necessary part of self-care.

Support Yourself!

It's important that when things go wrong, we are able to support ourselves. This ability comes from having a positive and loving relationship with ourselves, which is developed through the process of healing, wellness, and self-improvement. It enables us to treat ourselves with the same kindness and support that we would offer to a friend.

Supporting yourself and acknowledging all aspects of yourself is a superpower. As Sarah Knight said, "All of the qualities, including the flaws, that make you 'YOU' also make you interesting, capable, and powerful in your own way."

Summary

All this may sound like a tall order, and for diverse reasons such as low self-esteem, people-pleasing, anxiety, attachment issues, etc. Cultivating a healthy relationship with oneself, for many individuals, may feel overwhelming and unattainable due to a myriad of painful experiences that have tainted their view of themselves, others, and the world around them. The reality is that with some motivation, consistency, hard work, and professional guidance, it is achievable. Reach out today and let’s start that journey of getting to know yourself so you can show up for you.