“If you don’t love yourself, nobody else will. Not only that, but you won’t be good at loving anyone else. Loving starts with the self.” — Dwayne Dyer
It’s hard to decide whether these words, spoken by American self-help guru Dwayne Dyer, are a kick up the bum or a gentle reminder to be kind to yourself. A bit of both, probably.
Covid has shifted our collective mindset, and over 75 per cent of adults now believe self-care is essential. The top self-care activities that people who want to take good care of their mental and physical health practice include at-home spa rituals, hitting the gym, exercising outside, and getting a haircut. Those are all great steps, but you might be missing out if you’re not prioritising self-compassion yet.
Dive in to discover what self-compassion means and why it matters. We’ll also look at ways to slide self-care into a wellness routine for relaxation and inner peace with CBD products.
What Is Self-Compassion? Why Do You Need to Be Kind to Yourself?
We often hold ourselves to higher standards than others. When we make the same mistakes that we’d forgive our relatives, friends, and colleagues for, those missteps linger in our minds — turning into a self-critical voice that makes things worse.
Self-compassion is the concept of being kind to ourselves in the face of stress and suffering. Self-compassion means recognising that you’re just as human as the next person — and just as imperfect. That’s OK. You’re doing the best you can, and you need to have a supportive relationship with yourself to thrive.
Does that make sense?
Of course, it does — but understanding a concept is quite different from practising it! People who want to prioritise self-care through self-compassion can incorporate these crucial elements:
- Self-kindness. If being compassionate to others is easy for you, imagine you’re someone else. What kind words and feelings would you have for a friend facing your struggles?
- Recognising your humanity. We’re all inherently flawed. You accept that about others. It’s harder to do the same for yourself, but you’ll get there!
- Mindfullness. This set of practices helps you fully experience the present — without beating yourself up about past mistakes or worrying about the future.
- A non-judgmental attitude. Being self-compassionate requires you to reflect on yourself and your actions without judging them.
The overall aim? Practising self-compassion can lift your mood and improve your wellbeing by embracing the fact that you’ll fail, make mistakes, and be imperfect. That doesn’t make you a bad person. It doesn’t make you less deserving of love and acceptance.
Tips for Practicing Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is a helpful philosophy that gets you closer to inner peace and continued wellbeing. The key to feeling the benefits is to practice self-compassion rather than just promising to be kind to yourself.
We can separate that into two distinct realms — your inner voice (the conversations you have with yourself) and your actions.
1. Having Compassionate Dialogues with Your Inner Self
If you want to take self-compassion to the next level, start by paying attention to the things you tell yourself.
How often are you your own harshest critic? How often do you beat yourself up about things you think you could have done better? How often do you tell yourself to prepare for the worst because you don’t deserve anything better?
Stop those thoughts in their tracks next time. Counter your negative self-talk with compassion. Did you try your best? Did you work hard? Did factors beyond your control stop you from achieving your goals, or were you too tired to be your best self? Recognise the efforts you made, and don’t just tell yourself that you’re not good enough.
2. Turning Self-Care Into a Verb: Create a Wellness Routine That Works
Being self-compassionate doesn’t work if you keep burning your candles at both ends. How much time do you devote to doing things you love and find fulfilling without tending to others’ needs in the process? How often do you give yourself the time to relax and spend time with your inner voice?
The answer to both of these questions is probably “not enough”.
You deserve better. A wellness routine that works for you incorporates stress-busting activities that benefit your mental and physical health. It also includes R&R.
Exercise, delegating tasks you don’t really have to do on your own, trying new and healthier foods, and meditating can all be part of a wellness routine that helps you practice self-compassion. If you’re not sure whether you’ll stay on track, setting aside at least an hour a day to spend with yourself can be very beneficial.
How to Create a Wellness Routine with CBD Products
CBD products have spiked in popularity in recent years — and research indicates that many consumers incorporate cannabidiol into wellness routines with the aim of improving their general health and wellbeing.
Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive, non-addictive cannabinoid that won’t get you high. CBD can be extracted from industrial hemp or marijuana plants, after which it’s processed further and added to a wide range of products. CBD products with a THC content of less than 0.02 per cent are legally available in Britain as over-the-counter novel foods.
Have you decided to include CBD products in your personal wellness routine? Read on for some inspiration.
1. Choosing the Right CBD Product for Your Needs
CBD products can be full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or CBD isolates:
- Full-spectrum CBD includes many non-psychoactive cannabinoids, including terpenes and flavonoids. It has a THC content of up to 0.02 per cent.
- Broad-spectrum CBD has the same cannabinoids but only contains trace amounts of THC.
- CBD isolates are the purest form of CBD. These products don’t have any THC.
Consumers who would like to include CBD in their wellness routine can start by picking which type suits their needs best. After that, they can opt for a wide range of exciting products.
Which is best for you?
CBD oil remains one of the most popular CBD products. This fast-acting form of CBD comes in a glass bottle with a dropper, so you’ll have to measure your desired dose yourself. Once you do, you can use CBD oil by holding it under your tongue for 60 to 90 seconds. You can also add CBD oil to recipes or a relaxing hot bath.
CBD gummies are pre-dosed sweets that are easy to use and tasty, making them an excellent choice. People who prefer convenience can choose CBD capsules instead. They work similarly to CBD gummies because they pass through your digestive system, but they’re faster to use because you take them with some water.
People who like the idea of creating a relaxing self-care ritual may also want to explore CBD vape liquids and vape pens. You can vape CBD while reading a good book, meditating, or writing in a journal. The fact that vaping CBD is an ongoing experience appeals to some consumers.
Yet others prefer CBD creams and lotions. These luxurious skincare products provide topical action and keep your skin hydrated at the same time.
Looking beyond these staples, lots of exciting novel products are appearing on the market. CBD tea? CBD beard oil? CBD bath bombs? CBD-infused coffee? You can bet they all exist, but the list doesn’t end there.
2. Deciding How to Use CBD in Your Wellness Routine
Practising self-compassion is an ongoing project. Being kind to yourself is an important aspect, but so is allowing yourself to spend time on your own.
A CBD-based wellness routine can take many different forms. After using your chosen CBD product, you can:
- Meditate. That can be as simple as sitting with your thoughts. If you’re trying to practice self-compassion, send loving thoughts to yourself and the rest of the world.
- Say affirmations. Tell yourself that you’re doing well and that you’re good enough. Visualise your goals, and develop confidence that you can accomplish them.
- Do yoga. A relaxing yoga routine can build flexibility and strength while also opening the door to a spiritual awakening.
- Reframe your problems. Chronic worriers can benefit from reframing their challenges in a more positive way.
- Journal. Write your thoughts down, or make a list of all the things you’ve done well during the day.
Developing Self-Compassion, One Day at a Time
It’s easy to forget that you matter just as much as everyone else, but practising self-compassion can revolutionise the way you think about yourself.
Self-compassion is a critical part of a good self-care routine because it reminds you that you’re good enough the way you are. Getting the hang of it requires an ongoing conversation with yourself, but a relaxing self-care routine can play a key role in that practice.
Our favourite daily routine incorporates CBD products and an hour to ourselves. No, not behind the computer or the TV, but spent on conscious reflection and self-improvement. Yoga, meditation, journaling, and positive reframing are all excellent choices.
What will your self-care routine look like?
Sources:
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210114005312/en/Vagaro-Survey-75-of-Americans-Believe-Self-Care-Activities-Provide-Stress-Relief
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35961039/
- https://dictionary.apa.org/self-compassion
- https://orwh.od.nih.gov/in-the-spotlight/all-articles/7-steps-manage-stress-and-build-resilience
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31447137/
- https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-021-00061-5
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7340472/