A researcher of self-compassion argues that berating yourself for your failures, competing with others and pushing yourself to achieve perfection might produce worse outcomes than practicing those habits frequently extolled by therapists: self-compassion and self nurturing.
Kristin Neff, associate professor of Human Development and Culture at the University of Texas, defines self-compassion as “being kind and understanding toward oneself in instances of pain or failure rather than being harshly self-critical; perceiving one’s experiences as part of the larger human experience rather than seeing them as isolating; and holding painful thoughts and feelings in mindful awareness rather than over-identifying with them.”
Neff says that practicing self-compassion rather than self-criticism can lead to increased resilience and productivity at one’s job, as well as help decrease stress, according to Psychology Today.
