Instructions

• First, identify something about yourself that makes you feel uncomfortable, somewhat ashamed, insecure, or not good enough. It could be something related to your work with students or colleagues, your personality, behavior, or abilities, your relationships, or any other part of your life.
• Once you identify something, write it down and describe how it makes you feel. Sad? Embarrassed? Angry? Try to be as honest as possible, keeping in mind that no one but you will see what you write.
• The next step is to write a letter to yourself expressing compassion, understanding, and acceptance for the part of yourself that you dislike.

Guidelines for Writing

• Imagine that there is someone who loves and accepts you unconditionally for who you are. What would that person say to you about this part of yourself?
• Remind yourself that everyone has things about themselves that they don’t like, and that no one is without flaws. Think about how many other people in the world are struggling with the same thing that you’re struggling with; if you’re struggling with something at school, think about how many educators face the same issue.
• Consider the ways in which events that have happened in your personal or professional life, the family environment you grew up in, or even your genes may have contributed to this negative aspect of yourself.
• In a compassionate way, ask yourself whether there are things that you could do to improve or better cope with this negative aspect. Focus on how constructive changes could make you feel happier, healthier, or more fulfilled, and avoid judging yourself.
• After writing the letter, put it down for a little while. Then come back to it later and read it again. It may be especially helpful to read it whenever you’re feeling bad about this aspect of yourself, as a reminder to be more self-compassionate.

Source

Kristin Neff, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin

​Center for Mindful Self-Compassion

Evidence That It Works

A study found that participants who wrote a self-compassionate letter every day for a week reported lower symptoms of depression and greater happiness three to six months later, and participants who wrote a compassionate paragraph to themselves regarding a personal weakness subsequently reported more motivation to improve themselves.

Research indicates that self-compassion practices are a form of self-care that may reduce burnout in adults who work in service-oriented professions like teaching. A review of 22 self-compassion related therapies indicates that self-compassion approaches can reduce both anxiety and depression. In fact, self-compassion strategies may even be more effective in addressing depressed mood than strategies like reappraisal (shifting your thinking about a negative event) and acceptance.

Why Does It Matter?

When we face challenges with students or colleagues, and we beat ourselves up about them as a result, we can end up feeling even more stressed and isolated. A healthier response is to treat ourselves with kindness and understanding, and the self-compassion break is a great way to self-soothe during times of stress at school. In fact, teachers who are more mindful and self-compassionate foster more emotionally supportive relationships with their students.

And for those using this practice in higher education, research has found that self-compassionate college students are more likely to ask questions, seek help, and participate in the classroom activities.