This infographic is based on a blog post from Jaime L. Bedard, LCSW. For the full blog post and text version of this infographic, please click here.
“Self-love” can sometimes feel like a vague or inaccessible concept.
That’s completely understandable. Being human takes hard work, and when you have a lot going on, it’s easy to not make time or room to really concentrate on and love yourself. Instead of thinking of self-love as a goal, try thinking about self-love as a practice. That’s why we often use the term “self-compassion” instead– it implies action. When you practice self-compassion, you are creating space within yourself for all the messiness of being human.
Self-compassion can lift your spirits and offer strength while living in a world where white supremacy, (cis)sexism, heteronormativity and other systems of oppression take from your right to experience love and kindness. Sometimes, it’s hard to recognize the effects that living within these systems has. Self-compassion is a way to see those effects and be gentle with yourself. It is a necessary ingredient in efforts toward social and systemic change.
In honor of World Mental Health Day on October 10, here are 5 specific, concrete ways to practice it. Some of them may not feel right to you, and that’s ok. Use the ways that work for you, and build from there.
This infographic is based on a blog post from Jaime L. Bedard, LCSW. For the full blog post and text version of this infographic, please click here.
