Self-Compassion
Self-compassion means being kind to ourselves as we are, despite any mistakes we think we’ve made. Using the loving-kindness technique, you’ll uncover the self-love that already exists within you and practice unconditional friendliness toward your mind.
Try 14 days free
Better mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.
Details
About your teachers
- More about Andy
A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.
- More about Eve
Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.
- More about Dora
As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.
- More about Kessonga
Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.
- More about Rosie
Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.
Look after your mind
Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges
Science-backed
Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being
Explore 1000+ expert-led exercises
Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.
Member reviews
Hear from some of our members
Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.
Rachel
UK
Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.
Davide
London
The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.
Alicia
Canada
Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
Keri
UK
Related to 'Self'
Frequently asked questions
It is a quirk of human nature that people are usually the most unkind and most critical of themselves, especially when going through a challenging time. The inner-critic can be loud. The negative self-talk can be unforgiving. The self-judgment can come all too quickly. Self-compassion meditation is a practice in turning all that around. It is a practice in self-love, in positive self-talk, and loving kindness directed inward. Headspace’s self-compassion meditation course will teach you, day by day, to be more gentle with yourself and more accepting of who you are. And when that happens, self-compassion spills over into compassion for others.
The first step in a self-compassion meditation is bringing awareness to how you currently speak to yourself in the privacy of your own mind. You start to notice the tone of your inner-dialogue, or how hard you are on yourself. Armed with that awareness, you go into a meditation with the intention of being kinder, gentler, and more patient with yourself. Because if you can be kinder to yourself, you can accept who you are; and if you can accept who you are, you can love yourself as you are — and it’s that level of self-acceptance and self-love that lies at the heart of a self-compassion meditation.
The more you get into the habit of extending to yourself warm wishes, loving expressions, and positive affirmations, the more self-compassion will come naturally. Our Self-Compassion course, led by Dora Kamau, offers a good example of how best to approach a self-compassion meditation, and what phrases to use and repeat as part of the exercise: “May I learn to trust myself as I am” … “May I learn to accept myself as I am” … “May I learn to believe in myself as I am”. It is a powerful exercise in connecting with yourself in the most loving, compassionate way.
- © 2024 Headspace Inc.
- Terms & conditions
- Privacy policy
- Consumer Health Data
- Your privacy choices
- CA Privacy Notice