It Starts with Self-Compassion

When you hear the term “self-compassion,” you might immediately think of the word “nice,” or think that it’s a feeling reserved for the saintly and tenderhearted… that the rest of us are simply too busy to bother showing others any sort of kindness, let alone showing it to ourselves. But what if you found that was a misconception, and that compassion — especially for oneself — isn’t “nice,” but tough and resilient and even badass? And what if cultivating that “tough” self-compassion isn’t a fruitless endeavor at all, and could actually provide you with proven, long-term emotional benefits?

In It Starts with Self-Compassion, Celeste Headlee, award-winning journalist and host of the hit 2015 Tedx Talk “10 ways to have a better conversation,” lays out the case for turning inward and extending empathy and understanding to ourselves, while providing us with ways to recognize and acknowledge our thoughts and behavior without judgement. Blending her signature empathy with extensive, carefully curated research from positive psychology, neuropsychiatry, sociology, and other disciplines, Headlee offers a comprehensive examination of self-compassion and how it can improve your emotional well-being, as well as distinguish it from related notions like self-love or self-acceptance, all while centering her discussion around its three key components: mindfulness, a sense of connection to all of humanity, and kindness.

But Headlee’s approach isn’t just theoretical. In addition to defining and breaking down psychological concepts, this Scribd Original is packed with evidence-based exercises to help you assess your current level of self-compassion and give it a boost through journaling and “mind-training” practices like meditation and internal dialogues.

This new work from Headlee is a crucially insightful read for all personal growth fans. It offers a fresh perspective on thinking about how we can be better to ourselves, and is as practical and scientifically rigorous as it is emotionally enlightening and accessible.