196. The importance of self-compassion, featuring Kristin Neff

Why are we so hard on ourselves when we make a mistake, yell at our kids, or compare ourselves to someone who seems to have a shiny, perfect life? We say we should treat others the way we want to be treated, but so often we forget to treat ourselves with kindness too.

Kristin Neff, an associate professor of educational psychology, is on a mission to teach others practical self-compassion skills to use in everyday life. In today’s talk, she identifies three components of self-compassion: kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. It’s not always easy—self-compassion takes fierce awareness and boundaries, and true vulnerability with each other—but it’s worth the effort.

For more on Kristin Neff:

 

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Erin Holland