Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

by Kristin Neff

We look in the mirror and don’t like what we see (both literally and figuratively), and the shame starts to set in. Most of us are incredibly hard on ourselves when we finally admit some flaw or shortcoming. “I’m not good enough. I’m worthless.”

From the Buddhist point of view, you have to care about yourself before you can really care about other people.

By giving ourselves unconditional kindness and comfort while embracing the human experience, difficult as it is, we avoid destructive patterns of fear, negativity, and isolation.

Being human means you are average in many ways. Can you celebrate the experience of being alive on this planet in all your complexity and wonder?

The best way to counteract self-criticism, therefore, is to understand it, have compassion for it, and then replace it with a kinder response.

This is a moment of suffering. Suffering is part of life. May I be kind to myself in this moment. May I give myself the compassion I need.