When something is painful, stressful, or upsetting, try to slow down to observe your reactions to this suffering. Ask yourself if you are downplaying or denying the parts of life that are hard for you. See what happens if you simply name your reactions to yourself, such as, “This is tiring…that hurts…I’m a little sad…ouch.” Along with this basic acknowledgment, try to have feelings of support and compassion for yourself.
