Self-compassion is even better
... than self-esteem
SENSITIVE
In this section, I look at the world through a highly sensitive lens, or explain about what high sensitivity is and how it is something to be celebrated.
I learned about how self-compassion is better than self-esteem from an article in the Greater Good Magazine (UC Berkley).
HERE is the original article.
Dr. Kristen Neff, (author of Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive - a book I highly recommend) writes that strategies for increasing self-esteem tend to rely upon ego-boosting, or ignoring the reality of what’s happening. These strategies have limited value because we don’t learn anything about ourselves when employing them.
“How can we grow if we can’t acknowledge our own weaknesses?”
That kind of exercise may bring temporary relief, but in the long run it can harm us by getting us stuck in “endless cycles of stagnation and conflict.”
“So what’s the answer? To stop judging and evaluating ourselves altogether.”
Dr. Neff says that self-compassion “offers the same protection against harsh self-criticism as self-esteem, but without the need to see ourselves as perfect or as better than others.”
NOTE: I like to keep this newsletter short, so please do CLICK ON THIS LINK to read the article in Greater Good Magazine. You’ll learn so much more.
In the next section you’ll find a short video about a lovely self-compassion practice I learned recently.
WELL
In this section, I like to offer ideas for wellness and self-care that are proven effective for HSPs and everyone else.
If you enjoy these short videos, you might want to subscribe to my YouTube channel, Minute for Wellness / Morning Cuppa. Every weekday morning you’ll find a free, 1 to 3-minute video with wellness tips, ideas, and new research. Start your day with wellness!
LOOKING AHEAD
In this section, I look to the future with hope for all of us, but maybe most especially for we HSPs.
Highly sensitive people can be very hard on themselves, which is one of the reasons I video and blog (“Being Well” - HERE) a lot about wellness. That, and I’m a health and wellness coach; you can visit my website HERE.
Our society tends to deride, marginalize, and ignore the kinds of deep feelings HSPs have. When we’re hurt by being told in so many ways that we’re not good enough, not strong enough, self-compassion becomes even more important.
Watch the above video again. Practice the act of hand on heart, or hand on cheek, and ask yourself the heart-felt question, what do I need now?
Make this simple exercise part of your life.
You deserve it.