Why self-compassion is essential for emotional resilience…
Thursday, May 2, 2024.
New research underscores the profound impact of self-compassion on emotional healing and well-being.
According to Professor Mark R. Leary, the lead author of a study on this subject, self-compassion helps us cope with life's challenges without becoming defensive.
He stated, “Self-compassion helps to eliminate a lot of the anger, depression and pain we experience when things go badly for us.”
Studies have shown that humans who practice self-compassion experience less negative emotion and are better able to accept responsibility for negative experiences. Professor Leary explained, “Self-compassion changes people’s relationship to their self-evaluations. It helps people not to add a layer of self-recrimination on top of whatever bad things happen to them.”
Self-compassion involves three key components:
Kindness and understanding towards oneself: Being gentle and supportive towards oneself in times of difficulty.
Recognition of common humanity: Understanding that suffering is a part of the human experience and that everyone goes through tough times.
Mindful acceptance: Accepting one's thoughts and feelings without judgment or overidentification.
Expressive writing is one effective way to increase self-compassion. Professor Leary also recommends practical approaches, such as those detailed in his ebook "Accept Yourself," to help humans cultivate self-compassion in their daily lives.
Despite the societal emphasis on self-esteem, Professor Leary believes that self-compassion is a more critical factor in well-being.
He stated, “As you disentangle them, self-compassion seems to be more important than self-esteem and is, in fact, responsible for some of the positive effects of self-esteem.”
Perhaps practicing self-compassion is essential for emotional resilience and well-being. Treating oneself kindly and accepting one's experiences mindfully enables us all to navigate life's challenges with greater ease and emotional balance.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Leary, M. R., Tate, E. B., Adams, C. E., Batts Allen, A., & Hancock, J. (2007). Self-compassion and reactions to unpleasant self-relevant events: The implications of treating oneself kindly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(5), 887–904. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.5.887
