AnJenette Afridi. MA
- 2 min read

Self-Compassion is Potent

Susan David, PhD, Co-founder and Co-director of the Harvard Medical School Institute of Coaching and award-winning Harvard Medical School Psychologist states: “Ultimately, self compassion is about recognizing what it means to be human. Discomfort, stress, disappointment, loss and pain are all part of the human journey. If we are not able to enter into a space of kindness to ourselves, we’re putting ourselves at odds with the reality of life. Another hallmark of humanity is imperfection: To be human is to be imperfect and to make mistakes. Self-compassion is a necessary part of our journey; it’s about recognizing that you are doing the best you can — with who you are, with what you’ve got, and with the resources that you’ve been given.” (Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life by Susan David, PhD.) Kristin Neff, PhD, one of the pioneering researchers in this field, states that cultivating self-compassion builds resiliency against depression and anxiety, while increasing life satisfaction, optimism, social connectedness, and happiness. Dr. Neff describes self-compassion as having these three elements: Self-Kindness is being kind towards oneself when encountering pain and personal shortcomings and refraining from harsh criticism of the self. Common Humanity is recognizing that suffering and personal failure is part of the shared human experience rather than isolating. Mindfulness is maintaining a non-biased awareness of our experiences and a receptive mind state in which we observe our thoughts and feelings as they are without trying to suppress or deny them. (Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive by Kristin Neff, PhD.) “Talk to yourself as you would someone you love.” | Brené Brown

DISCLAIMER:

This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical issue or disease. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this article and will not be held responsible for the content of this article. The information in this article is not intended to replace a personal relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your personal health care provider for specific medical advice.