If it feels like you’re the only one struggling
Self-compassion has three elements:
1. Kindness to self (instead of self-judgment)
2. Mindfulness (instead of overidentification)
3. Common humanity (instead of isolation)
This third element of common humanity is about recognizing that we are not the only ones who are going through something hard, who are feeling this pain, and that we are not alone or isolated in it. Common humanity is the recognition that there isn’t something wrong with us for experiencing pain, but that this is simply a part of the human experience.
It’s doubly painful to go through something hard and to also feel like you’re isolated in or flawed for suffering. The next time you’re struggling, make the shift for yourself. Instead of judging yourself for feeling like ‘the only one’ who is struggling or having a hard time, remind yourself that you are not alone. Someone close by or out there is feeling pain, too. We are all in this world together, trying our best to find our way through our problems and challenges. We can support ourselves and others by recognizing our common humanity — thus reducing our loneliness, making it easier to cope with the challenges in front of us, and strengthening our bonds to one another.
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