Kindness Begins with Yourself: Strategies to Engage Medical Trainees in Self-Compassion

This chapter aims to expand upon the foundation of knowledge around self-compassion gained from Chap. 10.1007/978-3-030-45627-6_2, by helping the resident physician assess and reflect upon how they may offer kindness to themselves, and guide them in building upon this integral value. Practices that promote and foster self-compassion, kindness, and acceptance are reviewed. The reader is encouraged to explore these, discovering how this may help in coping with the stressors inherent to medicine and learning how such tools can be integrated into their lives and busy schedules. With ongoing practice and by adapting the tools to suit their own needs and preferences, residents may gradually feel more comfortable in becoming their own compassion leader.