Many of us carry an inner voice that is far harsher with ourselves than we would ever be with anyone else. It calls a hard day a failure and a small mistake proof that we are not enough. You would never speak to a struggling student that way, so try not to speak to yourself that way either.

Self-compassion is simply offering yourself the same understanding you give the people you care about. When something goes wrong, you can notice the sting, admit that this is hard, and remind yourself that struggling does not make you a bad teacher or a bad person. It makes you human. Being gentle with yourself is not letting yourself off the hook. It is what gives you the steadiness to keep going.