Practice Self Compassion

“‘The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.’” Mark 12:31 BSB

In an article published yesterday by trailrunner titled “How Self Compassion Can Help Your Trail Running,” the writer said. “For runners looking to prepare themselves mentally for the mental and emotional challenges of training and racing, it’s time to get serious about self-compassion.” Which they define as showing compassion to yourself. It is seeing yourself through painful experiences in the same way that you would a friend. You can’t fix the problem or remove the problem for your friend, but you still show up with kindness, empathy and validation to help make things easier. With self-compassion, you provide this same care to yourself. The writer went on to say that, “Self-compassion is linked to decreased performance anxiety, so self-compassionate runners get to the starting line with less stress and anxiety. But it helps with mid-race obstacles, too.”Hmmmm… I don’t know about you but I feel those are some very good reasons to cultivate self compassion. 

And you know, when it comes to practicing self compassion in our spiritual lives, the Bible tells us that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Which means that if we are to love our neighbors generously and unconditionally as we are called to do, we must first love ourselves that way, not thinking too highly of ourselves but remembering that God doesn’t make junk and He doesn’t make mistakes. We might make mistakes, after all we’re human, but God loves us and shows His kindness to us by calling us His children despite our flaws, shortcomings, and imperfections.

So if you’re down on yourself for something you’ve said or done today, grant yourself some grace my friend. Remind yourself that you’re not perfect and tell yourself what you’d tell someone else in the same position, “Give all your worries and cares to God because He cares about you.” 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our trials so that we can comfort others, including ourselves, when they are hurting. Thank You for loving us despite our mistakes. Help us to see ourselves as You do. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!