Students wrote about their understanding and thoughts about self-compassion and compassion in group work as one of the teaching and learning activities in a course. Here are some common themes from their perspectives…
Self-Compassion
Theme 1
Accept the past with no regret and self-blame
“Let go past failures”
(Ying Shut Chi Justin)
“Accept your past because it’s also a part of you”
(Fung Nok In)
Theme 2
Allow oneself to make mistakes and accept own weakness and limitations
“Acknowledge your faults and understand that your mistakes do not define you or make you”
(Wong Chun Lam)
“Be gentle on myself for making mistakes”
(Tsoi Ally Yi Ching)
Theme 3
Be mindful in the present moment
“Being mindful and have a great awareness towards being with the present moment and observe my emotion non-judgmentally”
(Lam Tze Ying Janice)
“Be present in the moment and enjoy the activities I am doing in present”
(Daphne)
Theme 4
Believe in and appreciate own strengths
“Appreciate the strengths of myself instead of maximizing the weaknesses”
(Daphne)
“Believe in self-strength, improve with experience and advice, rather be immersed in the regrets”
(Stella)
Compassion in Group Work
Theme 1
Notice and understand own /others’ difficulties and intend to seek / offer support
“Willing to expose vulnerability and ask for help”
(Kelly)
“Being aware of the need of the other: when others are busy, I can do more to help”
(Claudia)
Theme 2
Be empathetic, non-judgmental and non-blaming
“Not to blame anyone for anything that has happened”
(Anonymous)
“Understanding that we all have up days and down days, and that we should be aware that we may not be able to perform at the best of our abilities at all time”
(Wong Chun Lam)
Theme 3
Appreciate strengths and embrace imperfections
“Knowing that no one is perfect”
(Kelly)
“Mutual support based on the understanding of individual’s strengths and weakness”
(Stella)
Theme 4
Be inclusive, recognize and respect differences
“…flowing trust towards my groupmates even we might not be on the same page sometimes”
