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Metta or mudita (sympathetic joy) might help but wisdom is of paramount importance.

In short?

• Reflect on the shortness of life

• Reflect on kamma (long term consequences what condemnation will give you)

• Reflect that they too will eventually lose family, friends and material possessions

• Reflect that they are subject to aging sickness and death

Long answer?

There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Which five?

 

"'I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.' This is the first fact that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

 

"'I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness.' ...

 

"'I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.' ...

 

"'I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.' ...

 

"'I am the owner of my actions,[1] heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.' ...

 

"These are the five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

AN 5.57 https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.057.than.html

Metta or mudita (sympathetic joy) might help but wisdom is of paramount importance.

In short?

• Reflect on the shortness of life

• Reflect on kamma (long term consequences what condemnation will give you)

• Reflect that they too will eventually lose family, friends and material possessions

• Reflect that they are subject to aging sickness and death

Long answer?

There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Which five?

"'I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.' This is the first fact that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

"'I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness.' ...

"'I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.' ...

"'I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.' ...

"'I am the owner of my actions,[1] heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.' ...

"These are the five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

AN 5.57 https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.057.than.html

Metta or mudita (sympathetic joy) might help but wisdom is of paramount importance.

In short?

• Reflect on the shortness of life

• Reflect on kamma (long term consequences what condemnation will give you)

• Reflect that they too will eventually lose family, friends and material possessions

• Reflect that they are subject to aging sickness and death

Long answer?

There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Which five?

"'I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.' This is the first fact that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

"'I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness.' ...

"'I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.' ...

"'I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.' ...

"'I am the owner of my actions,[1] heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.' ...

"These are the five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

Metta or mudita (sympathetic joy) might help but wisdom is of paramount importance.

In short?

• Reflect on the shortness of life

• Reflect on kamma (long term consequences what condemnation will give you)

• Reflect that they too will eventually lose family, friends and material possessions

• Reflect that they are subject to aging sickness and death

Long answer?

There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Which five?

"'I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.' This is the first fact that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

"'I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness.' ...

"'I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.' ...

"'I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.' ...

"'I am the owner of my actions,[1] heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.' ...

"These are the five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

AN 5.57 https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.057.than.html

I am not sure if the Buddha taught a concept like "self acceptance or self compassion" in detail (or at all), but I can recommend to you self compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff. In summary it is: Having compassion for onself (seeing that the little child for example is suffering inside) and speaking kindly with oneself. Now, it's important not to indulge too much in this mode or rather be aware that it does not turn into pity or hurt! That's why she integrated "common humanity" where you then, after you showed compassion to yourself, reflect how other people might be in a similar position as you are (you're not alone with your problem) and a sense of compassion for others arises, because if we are suffering we are almost always invested with us and filter out everything else. I also gave quite similar - yet different- answer in "What did Buddha say about dysfunctional familes for novice practitioners?"

Metta or mudita (sympathetic joy) might help but wisdom is of paramount importance. 

In short?

• Reflect on the shortness of life

• Reflect on kamma (long term consequences what condemnation will give you)

• Reflect that they too will eventually lose family, friends and material possessions

• Reflect that they are subject to aging sickness and death

Long answer?

There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Which five?

"'I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.' This is the first fact that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

"'I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness.' ...

"'I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.' ...

"'I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.' ...

"'I am the owner of my actions,[1] heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.' ...

"These are the five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.