Self-Compassion

The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

By: Kristin Neff

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

From leading psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff comes a step-by-step guide explaining how to be more self-compassionate and achieve your dreams in life.

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.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to self-esteem that many experts believe is a better and more effective path to happiness: self-compassion. The research of Dr. Kristin Neff and other leading psychologists indicates that people who are compassionate toward their failings and imperfections experience greater well-being than those who repeatedly judge themselves. The feelings of security and self-worth provided by self-compassion are also highly stable, kicking in precisely when self-esteem falls down. This book powerfully demonstrates why it's so important to be self-compassionate and give yourself the same caring support you'd give to a good friend.

This groundbreaking work will show you how to let go of debilitating self-criticism and finally learn to be kind to yourself. Using solid empirical research, personal stories, practical exercises, and humor, Dr. Neff - the world's foremost expert on self-compassion - explains how to heal destructive emotional patterns so that you can be healthier, happier, and more effective. Engaging, highly listenable, and eminently accessible, this book has the power to change your life.

©2011 Kristin Neff, PhD (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers

Worth the read

As one of many people who tries to be kind to everyone but myself, this book helps me focus on putting reasonable boundaries on my self expectations. Have retread it twice after some tough days.

Annual listen

This book is a great reminder of how to care for yourself. It gets an annual listening as a refresher on compassion and kindness.

Thanks for the inspiration

I enjoyed the book. Great reminders on being kindness to yourself. I need to practice it now.

Transforming!

I love this book. I listened to it while walking and found my self talking out loud...like saying yes, yup, I totally get that! Also spent some time crying as I felt negative emotions and old thought patterns leave my mind. This book is beautiful

Extremely helpful, the best you can read

It really make a difference in many ways. It has been really helpful. Thanks you so much Kristin, you are changing the world thought self compassion

Really wish I’d found this book sooner

I’ve listen to a couple different books to help with anxiety and depression. This book is fantastic. I was not even considering most of the points the author brings up. But it has been instrumental in helping me correct some very destructive feelings.

Very useful

This is a wonderful book, I recommend it to everyone! It will help you have more compassion for yourself, more kindness and make the critical voices in hour head take the back seat of your car. Enjoy!

Outstanding!!

Changed my perception of my life. Wonderfully conveys the beauty of our shared human condition. A wealth of invaluable concepts and ideas to enhance and improve personal happiness an positive life experience.

So good

Ground breaking for me. I have alwys been hard on myself. I love your book. Thank you for all your research and hard work

Great book and a great method for self improvement

I am currently working through one of her other books Mind fullness Self-Compassion work book. You do two chapters a week. This book is an excellent companion to that book. It contains many of the same ideas but this is my story based where as the other has more written activities so that you can put these concepts into practice. I’d highly recommend doing both.