--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must treat ourselves with care…" description: "\"“We must treat ourselves with care, respect and compassion before we can effectively extend these things to others.”\" — Kristi Bowman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kristi-bowman-30790_compassion_we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respec_903329.jpg" --- # We must treat ourselves with care, respect and compassion… ![“We must treat ourselves with care, respect and compassion before we can effectively extend these things to others.” quote by Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kristi-bowman-30790_compassion_we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respec_903329.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kristi-bowman-30790_compassion_we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respec_903329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kristi-bowman-30790_compassion_we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respec_903329.jpg) > ““We must treat ourselves with care, respect and compassion before we can effectively extend these things to others.”” [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We need to nurture self‑care, respect, and compassion before we can genuinely offer them to others. **In simple terms:** Care for yourself first to help others. Key Takeaway Practice self‑compassion daily. Themes self‑care empathy relationships Mood reflective encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - therapy - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure your self‑compassion? - What barriers prevent you from extending compassion? A Different Perspective Self‑care alone may not guarantee effective care for others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Empowering women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowering-women/) [Empowerment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowerment/) [Personal development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-development/) [Personal growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-growth/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Self care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-care/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) ## Related quotes > [Treat yourself the way that you want others to treat you; with care, with respect and with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/treat-yourself-the-way-that-you-want-others-to-treat-you-with-care/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“It is my responsibility as the man who loves you and wants you to be his wife to mend what’s broken in you ……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/it-is-my-responsibility-as-the-man-who-loves-you-and-wants-you-to-be/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“It is my greatest wish that victims of paranormal attack are treated with the respect and compassion they deserve, and that by writing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mitchell/it-is-my-greatest-wish-that-victims-of-paranormal-attack-are-treated/) [Caroline Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mitchell/) > [“It costs when you live a life of respect, compassion, and sensitivity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martin/it-costs-when-you-live-a-life-of-respect-compassion-and-sensitivity/) [James Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martin/) > [I think that tolerance and respect and compassion and empathy is who my faith instructs me to be. 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We can change the world. Together. #BeKindLoveHard”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-henry/to-every-single-person-who-lives-their-life-with-love-respect-and/) Sophia Henry > [Chekhov said: let's put God - and all these grand progressive ideas - to one side. Let's begin with man; let's be kind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/chekhov-said-let-s-put-god-and-all-these-grand-progressive-ideas-to/) [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) > [“In fact, respect, compassion, and sensitivity are undervalued gifts for dealing with conflict and disagreement in general, gifts that can be shared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martin/in-fact-respect-compassion-and-sensitivity-are-undervalued-gifts-for/) [James Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martin/) > [Being there for someone sometimes is hard to get to but just gotta make it work out and just love care respect life living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimitri-mcbyron/being-there-for-someone-sometimes-is-hard-to-get-to-but-just-gotta/) [Dimitri McByron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimitri-mcbyron/) ## More by Kristi Bowman > [“Love is the most powerful gift we have to offer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/love-is-the-most-powerful-gift-we-have-to-offer/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“When things feel murky and unsure, fine tuning our hearing so as to distinguish the voice of our Innermost Self brings clarity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/when-things-feel-murky-and-unsure-fine-tuning-our-hearing-so-as-to/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“It's not so much what we do that matters, but what kind of person we choose to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/it-s-not-so-much-what-we-do-that-matters-but-what-kind-of-person-we/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“You can enjoy a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness in life despite challenging circumstances. It's all in how you think about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/you-can-enjoy-a-deep-sense-of-satisfaction-and-happiness-in-life/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“We often forget our human connectedness. Throughout my life, I have felt the greatest beauty lies in this connection. It has been in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/we-often-forget-our-human-connectedness-throughout-my-life-i-have/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“Sometimes in life we take a leap of faith. Remember, the leap is not about getting from one side to the other. It's simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/sometimes-in-life-we-take-a-leap-of-faith-remember-the-leap-is-not/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“Human potential is amazing...We have the capacity to create a world that is peaceful...one that spreads kindness and love rather than hatred. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/human-potential-is-amazing-we-have-the-capacity-to-create-a-world/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“When we awaken to our truth, we realize we are free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/when-we-awaken-to-our-truth-we-realize-we-are-free/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“The more we see ourselves as a vibrant, successful, inspiring person who boldly declares and manifests her vision, the more we become just that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/the-more-we-see-ourselves-as-a-vibrant-successful-inspiring-person/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“Creation is bringing potential into being, bringing inspiration into action. Inspiration and action are nothing when they are apart. Inspiration feels like a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/creation-is-bringing-potential-into-being-bringing-inspiration-into/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“Love and accept everyone for who they are, for where they are in life. That is compassion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/love-and-accept-everyone-for-who-they-are-for-where-they-are-in-life/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“Rather than having regrets over events in the past, or worrying whether or not the future will bring you what you need or desire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/rather-than-having-regrets-over-events-in-the-past-or-worrying/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“The key to ultimate happiness and fulfillment lies within our own transformation. The more we learn and grow and evolve as individuals, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/the-key-to-ultimate-happiness-and-fulfillment-lies-within-our-own/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“There's no time like the present to love deeply, claim our power and live our purpose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/there-s-no-time-like-the-present-to-love-deeply-claim-our-power-and/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) > [“Do not hide your light for fear of what others may think of you. Let it shine and be a reflection of what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/do-not-hide-your-light-for-fear-of-what-others-may-think-of-you-let/) [Kristi Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) [Explore all 17 Kristi Bowman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We must treat ourselves with care, respect and compassion before we can effectively extend these things to others.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kristi Bowman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respect-and-compassion-before-we/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respect-and-compassion-before-we/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kristi-bowman-30790_compassion_we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respec_903329.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kristi-bowman-30790_compassion_we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respec_903329.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kristi-bowman-30790_compassion_we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respec_903329.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must treat ourselves with care, respect and compassion before we can effectively extend these things to…” — Kristi Bowman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kristi Bowman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-bowman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We must treat ourselves with care,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respect-and-compassion-before-we/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-bowman/we-must-treat-ourselves-with-care-respect-and-compassion-before-we/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```