1173: Putting Down The Second Arrow: How Self Compassion Heals Anxiety

In today's episode, Gina shares a key element of anxiety recovery: using self-kindness in the face of stress and overwhelm to diffuse self-criticism. Negative self-talk often makes anxiety so much more unbearable than it would be if we acknowledged the anxiety and gave ourself grace and compassion in our thoughts and feelings. Tune in to this episode and learn how to tame anxiety before it get out of control!Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors!https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/ Thank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast. FREE MUST-HAVE RESOURCE FOR Calming Your Anxious Mind10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety Anxiety Coaches Podcast Group Coaching linkACPGroupCoaching.comTo learn more, go to:Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.comJoin our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership ProgramLearn more about our One-on-One Coaching What is anxiety? Find even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership:For $5 a month, all episodes are ad-free! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/Here's what's included for $5/month:❤ New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday❤ Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes❤ Premium meditations recorded with you in mind❤ And more fun surprises along the way!All this in your favorite podcast app!Quote:If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.-Jack KornfieldChapters0:26 Introduction to Self-Compassion2:07 The Parable of the Two Arrows6:23 Practicing Self-Compassion8:33 Five Ways to Cultivate Compassion15:18 Embracing Your Inner Child16:04 The Journey of HealingSummaryIn this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, I delve into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of our mental health journey: self-compassion. I share insights from my own experiences and teachings that highlight the importance of treating ourselves with kindness, particularly in moments of anxiety and stress. Drawing upon a Buddhist parable, I explain how our reactions to life's inevitable challenges often intensify our suffering through self-criticism and harsh judgments, which I metaphorically refer to as the "second arrow."The episode begins with an exploration of how anxiety, represented by the metaphorical first arrow, triggers a natural bodily response. However, it is our internal dialogue—the harsh words we say to ourselves—that introduces additional suffering, symbolized by the second arrow. I illustrate this concept by asking listeners to reflect on their beliefs about healing and recovery from anxiety. This narrative serves as a foundation for understanding how self-compassion can buffer against the weight of our challenges.I introduce five practical strategies to cultivate self-compassion as a means to alleviate anxiety. The first involves recognizing our need for kindness during tough times, coupled with a simple yet effective physical gesture: placing a hand over the heart, allowing us to ground ourselves and activate soothing physiological responses. The second strategy encourages listeners to dig deeper into their feelings, acknowledging underlying emotions that may be contributing to anxiety, such as sadness or frustration.#AnxietyCoachesPodcast #AnxietyRelief #SelfCompassion #MentalHealthMatters #HealingJourney #InnerPeace #Mindfulness #TwoArrows #Buddhism #EmotionalWellness #CopingSkills #GinaRyan #SelfCare #OvercomingAnxiety #StressManagement #PanicAttackHelp #CompassionForSelf #Tonglen #JackKornfield #ACPSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.