So for this Well-being Wednesday article, I’d like us to think about compassion and kindness.

You may be able to think for yourself of many times when others have been compassionate to you, and also I expect, times when you have been compassionate and kind to others.

Maybe even now, just thinking of those times brings a smile to your face.

However the focus of this article is more about SELF compassion - and I speak from experience here as there have been many times when I have not shown myself the compassion I show to others.

In fact Buddha himself said: “If you are not compassionate to yourself, then your compassion is incomplete.”

This quote really shocked me as I’ve always thought of myself as compassionate!

So my questions to you dear readers is: Are you compassionate to yourself? What things do you do that show self compassion? Are there more things you could do?

Take a minute to think about your own self compassion and commit to doing one small thing a day that shows you are taking good care of yourself.

Jennifer Louden once said: “ Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. We cannot nurture others from a dry well.

"We need to take care of our own needs first, so that we can give from our surplus, our abundance.

"When we nurture others from a place of fullness, we feel renewed instead of taken advantage of.”

So make sure your well of compassion isn’t dry, put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others!

Stay well.

Clare is a born and bred Worcester resident, trainer, coach and author of two books.

www.the-compassionate-coach.com