Understanding Common Humanity for Greater Self-Compassion
Treating ourselves with kindness often starts with the realization that all people fundamentally share a common set of experiences as human beings. This concept is called "common humanity" in Buddhist philosophy and is key to showing ourselves self-compassion.
Defining Common Humanity
Common humanity recognizes that certain experiences are part of the collective human condition rather than personal failings unique to any one individual. Things like:
- Making mistakes
- Facing illness and loss
- Struggling with self-doubt
- Feeling stressed, lonely, overwhelmed
Understanding these states and emotions connect us all can be highly self-reassuring. You are not alone in what you go through.
Linking Common Humanity and Self-Compassion
When you acknowledge the basic truths that pain and hardship are inevitable and universally felt, it helps remove feelings of isolation when you yourself undergo such challenges.
Reduces Harsh Self-Judgment
You attach less embarrassment or weakness to your struggles when framing them through a lens of common humanity, allowing more room for self-kindness.
Creates Feelings of Interconnectedness
Recognizing shared human experiences breeds comfort, solidarity, and empathy—for both yourself and others facing similar situations.
Applying Principles of Common Humanity
Broaden Your Perspective
Study global events, research human behavior trends, look into support groups. This widens your view of how no emotion is abnormal.
Be Proactively Compassionate
Comfort and encourage others without judgment so they pay comfort forward, propagating compassion including self-compassion.
Reframe Personal Narratives
Check tendencies to catastrophize minor mishaps or view them as individual failures. Remind yourself such things are common to the broader human experience.
Let me know if you would like me to elaborate on any part of this article draft covering the definition of common humanity and its role in self-compassion. There is certainly room to include more tips, examples or research on this topic.FAQs
What is the definition of common humanity?
Common humanity is the recognition that certain experiences like suffering, loss, failures, and imperfection are a universal part of the human condition rather than something that happens only to isolated individuals.
How does common humanity increase self-compassion?
Seeing your struggles as commonly shared rather than personal weaknesses reduces embarrassing self-judgments and creates feelings of interconnectedness - both of which lead to greater self-compassion.
What are some examples of our common humanity?
Examples of shared human experiences showing our common humanity include things like: grief, body image struggles, loneliness, shame, heartbreak, self-doubt, failure, sickness, aging, loss.
Why is self-compassion important?
Treating ourselves with the same kindness and concern we might show a good friend builds resilience, combats issues like depression or anxiety, and helps us thrive during good and bad times rather than just survive.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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