You get more bees with honey. We often use this phrase to describe how we treat others, but what about how we treat ourselves? Honey is sweet, and self-compassion is sweet in the same way. It is kindness, understanding, and acceptance. With more self-compassion, how much more could we learn about ourselves, and how much more could we grow? Sometimes the thing that is missing from our growth is the honey.
Criticism vs. Constructive Feedback
When you reflect on your inner dialogue, does it sound more like criticism or constructive feedback? Unlike criticism, constructive feedback is helpful and considerate. Self-compassion works in a similar way: it’s not about denying our weaknesses but learning from them. For example, if your goal is to eat healthier, some days you might fall short. Criticism might say, “I have no self-control.” Self-compassion says, “I’ve been stressed, and food comforts me. Next time, I’ll try a walk or journaling instead.” By responding to ourselves with kindness rather than judgment, we create space for growth.
Honesty + Kindness = Self-Compassion
There are many misconceptions about self-compassion. A common one is the belief that self-compassion is merely about repeating positive affirmations. In reality, self-compassion is far deeper and much more honest. It involves being willing to acknowledge our imperfections, limitations, and mistakes without using them as evidence that something is wrong with us. Self-compassion allows us to recognize that we can be great and still not be great at everything. We can be capable and still not know how to do certain things. We can be intelligent and still make mistakes. Self-compassion is about being honest in a kind way.
Embrace Your Humanity
Self-compassion is to growth what honey is to bees. If we want to grow, we do so with kindness, understanding, acceptance, and honesty. We replace criticism with constructive feedback, affirm our strengths, and work on our imperfections. Ultimately, self-compassion means recognizing that simply being human is enough.