The Fierce Side of Self-Compassion

<p>Is it better to be self-critical or self-compassionate? Until 20 years ago, when <b>Kristin Neff, PhD</b>, began pioneering the empirical study of self-compassion, most high-achievers would likely have answered “self-critical.” Indeed, being hard on yourself can <em>seem</em> like the path to success. But Dr. Neff’s research has shown that self-compassion is actually the surer and healthier road. In this interview, Dr. Neff explains what self-compassion really means—hint: it’s not for the faint of heart—and how it supports mental health. She also describes “fierce” self-compassion, in which kindness toward ourselves becomes a force for change in the world. </p><p>Kristin Neff, PhD, is Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Her new book is <em>Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive.<br/><br/></em><b>Links:</b></p><ul><li><a href='https://self-compassion.org/'><b>Self-Compassion.org</b></a></li><li><a href='https://icahn.mssm.edu/about/well-being'><b>The Office of Well-Being and Resilience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai</b></a></li><li><a href='https://icahn.mssm.edu/about/departments/psychiatry/clinical/stress-resilience-personal-growth-center'><b>Mount Sinai Center for Stress, Resilience, and Personal Growth</b></a></li></ul>