Why Self-compassion is Important?
Although it can be difficult to practice self-compassion it is an important skill to develop. There are many reasons why self-compassion is helpful for us:
“Self compassion can help to foster an open minded, more interconnected and less separate view of the self as a whole e.g. by protecting against self evaluative anxiety when thinking about personal weaknesses. ”
Neff et al. 2007
“Self compassion is related to positive psychological help and may be protective against depression; high levels of self compassion are associated to greater life satisfaction and mastery of goals"
– Neff (2009)
“Compared to distraction, self compassion doesn't reduce negative feelings but increases positive feelings.
– Odou (2015)
“Self compassion can help to protect against self evaluative anxiety e.g. when thinking about personal weaknesses it allows us to do so in a more open way. ”
Neff (2007)
You might want to make notes at this point. These may help you remember things, work out what you want or see how much you’ve changed if you read them again in a few years’ time.