Showing results by author "Kristin Neff" in All Categories

The relentless pursuit of high self-esteem has become a virtual religion - and a tyrannical one at that. Our ultracompetitive culture tells us we need to be constantly above average to feel good about ourselves, but there is always someone more attractive, successful, or intelligent than we are. And even when we do manage to grab hold of high self-esteem for a brief moment, we can't seem to keep it. Our sense of self-worth goes up and down like a ping-pong ball, rising and falling in lockstep with our latest success or failure.

Why does it feel so natural to be compassionate and kind to those we care about - yet so hard to treat ourselves the same way? "Our culture teaches us to use self-criticism for motivation and to build self-esteem by constantly measuring ourselves against everyone else," says Dr. Kristin Neff. "We need to re-learn the essential skill of being genuinely nurturing and supportive toward ourselves."

Kristin Neff changed how we talk about self-care with her enormously popular first book, Self-Compassion. Now, 10 years and many studies later, she expands her body of work to explore a brand-new take on self-compassion. Although kindness and self-acceptance allow us to be with ourselves as we are, in all our glorious imperfection, the desire to alleviate suffering at the heart of this mindset isn't always gentle, sometimes it's fierce. 

Learn the science of self-compassion and mindfulness to heal and build resilience. 

In the face of a threatening or unjust situation, have you ever kept silent because you didn't want to rock the boat or make things worse? And then, did you wonder: "Next time, how can I become stronger and more effective?" That's the purpose of The Yin and Yang of Self-Compassion. Kristin Neff, PhD, created this inspiring audio program to help you understand and build the two complementary aspects of this crucial skill: the receptive Yin side self-compassion and the active Yang side self-compassion.

Over the past decade, an overwhelming body of research has shown self-compassion to be key to good psychological and physical health. Whether you wish to reduce stress, develop healthy habits for exercise or diet, unlock your creativity, or even deal with serious conditions such as depression or addiction, a strong sense of self-compassion is an essential ingredient for success. Best of all, self-compassion is a skill that can be learned.

Do you ever feel like other people are overtaking you in life? Lack self-esteem and belief in yourself, often leaving you feeling worthless? Or like most people, you just want to finally overcome that frustrating mental barrier that’s constantly holding you back? If this sounds like you, then don’t worry, you’re not alone. You see, building discipline and compassion within yourself will have a powerful effect on where you’re heading in life.

More people suffer from a lack of self-compassion than many of us would like to admit. Always putting others above themselves, people who fail to give themselves enough love and value can easily feel emotionally drained, tired, and unhappy. In this complete guide, we’re sharing all the information you need to know to help you climb out of that seemingly bottomless pit to achieve a greater sense of self-worth and importance to fuel an eagerness to love yourself more.