What Is Fierce Self-Compassion?
Cynthia Phelps explores tender and fierce self-compassion through the question of what is needed to alleviate suffering right now.
By Cynthia Phelps
Published
The quintessential question of self-compassion is “What do I need right now?” and more specifically “What do I need to help alleviate my suffering?” The answer to this question changes depending on the circumstances. Sometimes what we need is to accept ourselves in all our human imperfection, to love ourselves as we are in the moment. But that doesn’t mean we necessarily want to stay as we are in the moment. If a herd of cattle is stampeding toward you, it’s not the time for self-acceptance, it’s time for action. Most people think of self-compassion as soft and gentle, but self-compassion can be fierce as well as tender.Tender self-compassion involves “being with” ourselves in an accepting…