The Power of Self-Compassion: Kindness When the Inner Work Gets Hard
- HeeyDominique
- Dec 12, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 5
Welcome back to the blog. This week, in this article we are discussing Series 2 Guided Meditations, our trauma informed series. In our last article for this series Why Gentle Grounding? The Essential Choice During Guided Meditations, we went over gentle grounding and stabilization, using the senses and environment to develop immediate feelings of safety and calming of the nervous system. This article and it concepts are a vital starting point for any T-I meditation practice. If you haven’t read the article on this first, essential phase, I encourage you to start there with this series.
As with all of our blog pieces regarding Our Series Meditations there is a Guided Meditation linked for you to experience. Please click the link below🏃🏽♀️
Let's talk a little more about Trauma Informed protocol or T-I
Trauma Informed Protocol, T-I protocol, is a dedicated structure of recommendations and procedures backed by science that allow those with traumatic experiences or mental deficiencies to participate in highly effective therapy-style self-help techniques. Exercises such as meditations and mindfulness practices are modified to allow the user to participate without concern of re-traumatization. Each exercise should include a disclaimer that informs the listener that they are in complete control.
This blog, and the meditations themselves, are part of a Four-week Course that guide the listener through 4 distinct stages of meditation. Briefly, here are those stages:
Stage: One
Focus: Stabilization and gentle grounding
Stage: Two
Focus: Self-Compassion and Non-judgmental approaches
Stage: Three
Focus: Gentle Interpersonal Awareness
Stage: Four
Integration and Moving Foward with Agency
✨4-week Goal: BUILD EFFECTIVE MEDITATION PRACTICE ✨
Each meditation is intended to be used for the full duration of a week (7days) before moving on to the next step to ensure that the concepts are understood and feel natural and more importantly, consistent with the desired result. As with any plan the goal outcome is an identified checkpoint and therefore important to remember and work towards!
Okay, now that we have the basics covered, let's talk Self-Compassion
Phase II- Self-Compassion
If your human you’ve likely made a mistake. If your at the age of the majority of my blog readers, 25 and older, then you’ve had the time to make a lot!
We are not here to judge your mistake- we are here to judge your response to them- Show us your self-compassion!!
If you have that one friend/family member whose inner critic might as well pay rent because they are always in the fridge then you’ve met the downside of having a inner critic we can’t control. You’ve likely made some sort of subtle but serious reference- either by sending mental health related comedy reels or sharing a personal story where you’ve gotten help for a tough situation. These relationships can be tough! Take a moment to breath!!
It's perfectly okay to need a break from the chaos. Often times we have to check in on own thoughts, just to be sure we have what it takes to be that supportive friend/ family while they are in need. How we talk to ourselves in our tough moments is vital!!
Self vs Passing thoughts
Here’s how I think about those thoughts that we have on the daily. If you are a sports person, it's incredibly simple and natural to relate your thoughts to play. The effectiveness of a completed down, a motivated team that works together and scores field goals from the 2-and 3-point line
and,
The thrill of a winning team- These are good thoughts.
We want these to hang around so we do what our brain tells us to do to keep them playing, even in the background as we move on to other things.
Because trauma is sticky, it promotes conflict between the thoughts that should stick and the ones that are not so great for our health. The toxic thoughts challenge our tonic, healthy ideals and the risk from traumatization from everyday interactions increase. Anxiety has been said to be the mind too far in the future.
Depression, the mind too far in the past.
Mentally challenged individuals become overwhelmed by negative mental focus and it becomes more difficult to gauge where they end and where their thoughts, and ultimately actions begin.
Self-Kindness means treating oneself with gentle care rather than harsh judgement during meditation and everyday life.
Self-awareness means recognizing internal experiences such as emotions and thoughts without judgement or resistance.
Courage calls us to embrace vulnerability to face internal confusion and emotional complexity bravely.
Emotional fluidity in use means we allow feelings to move naturally without fixation or repression.
Vulnerability means accepting one’s true self openly, fostering deeper healing and self-connection.
These are the principles of self-compassion and acceptance. Each Principle has its own role and helps the individual shape their path towards speaking to themselves with loving-kindness even and especially, when they make mistakes.
The Journey of Self-Healing
Please recall the disclaimer🚀
Whether performing any of the meditations of this program/offering or any other- be sure to consult your physician if you have known adverse reactions to any of the concepts written or included with our recording or copy.
To recap, Here are the stages of a trauma informed Protocol
I. Stabilization and Grounding
Focusing on Stabilization and Grounding is the critical first phase for any trauma-informed practice, as it establishes safety and prepares the nervous system for any deeper work.
This phase offers simple, concrete anchors and avoids techniques that encourage dissociation or deep emotional exploration.
The remaining Phases include
II. Self-Compassion- When we cultivate kindness toward one’s own internal experience and foster a non-critical inner voice.
III. Interpersonal Awareness- Where we develop mindful presence in relation to other boundaries and communication, using a lens of self-safety.
IV. Integration and Moving Forward- How we apply everything we’ve learned in phases 1-3 and face the future with functional resilience.
Each phase in trauma informed protocol is designed to stair step a patient gently and deliberately through the process. This allows the individual to heal from past trauma or simply enjoy moments of mindfulness. The most success outlook is that individuals choose to continue the journey through mindfulness, using meditation and consistency.
For individuals with a history of trauma, especially developmental or childhood trauma, certain meditative techniques can trigger emotional distress, flashbacks, or a sense of being overwhelmed or dissociated. By integrating options, we empower the user to self-regulate and choose the practice that keeps them feeling safe, which is the foundational goal of any trauma-informed approach.
Must Haves for Engaging with Trauma-Informed Guided Meditations
Find a safe, quiet space where you feel comfortable
Approach meditation with kindness and without expectation
Use slow, gentle breathing and allow pauses as needed
Honor your boundaries and adjust practice according to your comfort level
Okay Crushes and Kinder folk that's all I have for this week's article. If you have any questions direct them to our link tree portal 'Contact us' tab and we'll get you together. That's our fastest, easiest point of contact.
Also, here's the link to this week's T-I Guided Meditation, if I talked you into having a listen again, please do! I hope I did😁
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