Cultivating self-compassion

Sankalpa as a quiet return.

So many of us know how to be kind outwardly.And yet, when it comes to ourselves, kindness is often the first thing we withhold.

Self-compassion isn’t a personality trait. It’s a practice.

In Yoga Nidra, we often work with sankalpa—a simple, heartfelt intention. Not something to force or fix, but something to gently remember. A truth we return to when the noise softens.

Here are a few sankalpa reflections rooted in self-compassion. You don’t need to hold them all. Let one meet you.

• I am worthy of kindness, exactly as I am.

• I honor my needs without guilt.

• I forgive myself and soften toward my imperfections.

• I am enough. I don’t need to prove it.

• I move through challenge with gentleness and patience.

• I trust my inner wisdom.

• I allow rest to be restorative, not earned.

A sankalpa works quietly. It doesn’t demand belief. It simply waits—until the body feels safe enough to listen.

Yoga Nidra offers a place to practice this kind of listening. A place where self-compassion isn’t something you think about, but something you feel.

If you’re craving a softer way to reconnect with yourself, I’ve created guided Yoga Nidra practices centered on rest, kindness, and nervous system care. You’re welcome to explore them in my Insight Timer library whenever you need a pause.

Self-compassion doesn’t ask you to become someone new. It invites you to come back to yourself—gently.