In today's world full of competition, we constantly doubt ourselves. We compare the looks and achievements of others to our own. It causes us to strive to gain external validation. Setting the bar too high, we often fail to live up to these unrealistic expectations, feeling despair and discouragement. Ashamed of our inadequacy, we become self-critical, never feeling good about ourselves.

While studying self-compassion for her doctoral research, Dr. Kristin Neff came across a unique practice. Searching for a way to overcome a divorce, Kristin resorted to Buddhist meditation. It prompted her to go deeper into Buddhist philosophy, leading to the teachings of Sharon Salzberg called "Lovingkindness." This self-compassion concept was destined to change Kristin's life.

Self-compassion defies self-criticism, encouraging us to treat ourselves with the same kindness and sympathy as those we love. This paradigm promotes personal development and is a basis for universal love and interconnection. It assumes that to be compassionate to others, you must first learn to have compassion for yourself.

At first, Dr. Neff was pessimistic about the concept of self-compassion. She believed such an approach would only fuel egoism and laziness. With time, she realized that self-criticism feeds feelings of insufficiency, acting as a barrier to genuine personal development. On the other side, self-compassion taught Kristin how to face her downsides without pressure, nurturing a wholesome connection with herself and the people around her.

After adopting self-compassion, Kristin saw how much it enhanced her relationships. Dr. Neff and her fiancé, Rupert, discovered that self-compassion enables you to stop relying only on the approval of others. Instead, you learn to find compassion within yourself and encourage the happiness and personal development of those you love. Standing at the altar, Rupert and Christine promised to support each other in this self-compassion journey that is important for individual well-being and relational bonds.

Ultimately, embracing self-compassion empowers us to confront our flaws with kindness and acceptance, laying the groundwork for self-awareness and relational satisfaction.