During my 22 years working and studying in the field of psychology, one thing has really stood out, both within my clients and my own personal life - How incredibly hard we can be on ourselves and how difficult we find it to be compassionate towards ourselves. Particularly when we need it the most, when we are suffering! I know from personal experience, this is something I have to continuously work on, even though it is exactly what I teach others every day.
I think there are a lot of reasons why we find it so difficult to be self compassionate. Culturally, the majority of us were brought up to 'get on with life'. Our parents and their parents were most likely brought up the same. We were taught to be kind to others but not to ourselves. We are surrounded by others who we also hear speaking to themselves with a deep harshness.
Welcome!
Every Monday for the next four weeks, I will be sharing a beautifully written guest blog from four amazing four inspiring people who have kindly offered to write about their experiences, sharing their thoughts on their individual journey of self-care.. I will begin the week with the lovely Elisabeth Corey. Elizabeth talks about the importance of going back to basics when it comes to self care, and reflects upon how important remembering to breathe and eat has been for her throughout her journey of recovery. It is a beautiful and inspiring read that I know you will enjoy.
Elisabeth is a survivor of family-controlled child sex trafficking and sex abuse. Her education in social work and her personal experiences as a survivor inform her intimate dialogue about the biological, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of trauma recovery, which she discusses on her blog at BeatingTrauma.com. She writes about breaking the cycle of abuse through conscious parenting, navigating intimate relationships as a survivor, balancing the memory recovery process with daily life, coping with self-doubt, and overcoming the physical symptoms of a traumatic childhood. She guides other survivors as they navigate life and parenting with private sessions, workshops and a forum. She also works with media and organizations through her workshops, writing, and speaking. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
So, it’s a few weeks into 2024 already.
I don’t know about everyone else, but for me it’s been a bit of a slog. I will admit to getting caught up in the whole ‘New Year, New Me’ stuff this year. With my metabolism lowering as I get older, I have some weight I would like to shift. I also planned to get more organised and to start writing more again.
