A Compassionate Kit Bag is a powerful way to support yourself in times of anxiety, overthinking, stress and reactivity. When you feel you need support you can turn to your own personal kit bag to help yourself find soothing, calming and balance.
You can start creating your own Compassionate Kit Bag by gathering up a collection of objects which represent soothing and nurturing to you. These can be a mixture of objects that you find calming or uplifting, depending on what you might need at different times.
Try. to select a variety of different items which might appeal to all of your senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, smell. Here are some suggested items you could include:
- Soothing smells (eg. essential oils, hand cream, bath salts)
- Soothing objects (eg. small rock, shell, soft cloth, crystal)
- Memento connected with safety and calm (eg. souvenir, soft toy)
- Music/song lyrics (self-compassion playlist)
- A few poems, quotations, or small book
- Meaningful pictures, postcards
- Comforting Tastes (eg. herbal tea / coffee / hot chocolate sachet, small bar of chocolate, mint candy)
- Microwave bean bag for warmth and weight or electric heating pad
- Hobbies you enjoy; small puzzle, drawing pencil, watercolours, doodle pad, colouring book, simple knitting project
- Journal where you collect kind compassionate letters to yourself
- Collage making materials (old magazines, glue, scissors)
Keep these in a bag or a box, or even create a mini go-to bag you can carry with you at all times. You can continually modify your kit as you find new items that appeal to your sense of calm and safety.
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