Nourishing Body & Mind–Week 2: Self-Compassion Break
Self-Compassion and how you relate to yourself as an eater
Self-compassion is the practice of being kind and understanding toward yourself, especially in moments of struggle. When it comes to eating and body image, it’s easy to fall into cycles of frustration, guilt, and self-criticism. Practicing self-compassion can transform your relationship with food and yourself. This process unfolds in three stages: striving, disillusionment, and radical acceptance.
Striving: The Beginning of Self-Compassion
In the early stages of self-compassion, we often approach it the same way we do other goals: we try hard to “get it right.” When we start being kinder to ourselves, we might feel relief —like the sense of hope and excitement that comes with starting something new. This stage can feel uplifting as we realize that we can meet our own needs, which feels like a significant breakthrough.
Disillusionment: When Things Get Hard
As with any practice, the initial excitement fades, and we can begin to feel disillusioned. We may think we’re not doing it right, or that self-compassion is just another thing we’ve failed at. When we experience frustration, it’s a signal to step back and let go of striving for perfection. It’s not about getting better or making pain disappear. Instead, it’s about learning to soften our approach and accept our struggles without judgment.
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Imperfection
This is where self-compassion truly transforms. Radical acceptance means accepting our imperfect, messy selves without trying to fix or change everything. In the context of eating, it’s about accepting that it’s okay to be confused, overwhelmed, or frustrated at times. We don’t practice self-compassion to escape pain but to hold space for our struggles with love and kindness.
Instead of aiming for perfection, we practice self-compassion because we are human. This radical acceptance allows us to feel pain, but also the love that holds that pain, making it more bearable.
Befriending Yourself, Not Trying to Change
We often feel frustrated with our eating habits or body image, but self-compassion is not about “fixing” ourselves. It’s about being kind to who we already are—embracing imperfections rather than striving for some ideal version. Over time, we realize that it’s not about “getting it right” but about being gentle with ourselves, especially during moments of struggle.
This article meets Iris standards for medical accuracy. It has been fact-checked by the Iris Clinical Editorial Board, our team of oncology experts who ensure that the content is evidence based and up to date. The Iris Clinical Editorial Board includes board-certified oncologists and pharmacists, psychologists, advanced practice providers, licensed clinical social workers, oncology-certified nurses, and dietitians.
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