Be kind to yourself: it’s the first step towards everything!

Be kind to yourself: it’s the first step towards everything!

Happiness requires prioritising.

Happiness requires taking care of your physical health and wellbeing.

Happiness is built on optimism and hope; good quality relationships and fun with friends.

But the chances are you’ll do none of these things if you don’t think you matter. Which is why self-care and self-kindness is vitally important…

via the Ladders 

Leah Weiss is a professor at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and the author of the recently released How We Work: Live Your Purpose, Reclaim Your Sanity, and Embrace the Daily GrindShauna Shapiro is a professor at Santa Clara University, a clinical psychologist, and an internationally recognized expert in mindfulness. The two recently sat down to discuss the power of self-compassion to help us build better habits, reduce stress, and strengthen our relationships.

Leah: What’s one thing that you’re working on right now that you’re finding interesting or surprising?

Shauna: The importance of self-kindness and self-compassion in mindfulness. In my work with thousands of people, I’ve been stunned to discover that people are talking about the same thing: this sense of self-judgment, of not being good enough. They beat themselves up in this critical way to try to get better or improve.

But I’m learning that that approach simply doesn’t work. Not only does it feel terrible, but when we feel shamed or judged — especially when it’s our own shame and self-judgment — the parts of the brain that have to do with learning, growth, and change shut down. We’re actually freezing ourselves in the very behaviors that most need to change.

Leah: There’s so much belief built into the power of self-criticism and self-flagellation. I’m curious, when you take this information to people, how do they react?

…keep reading the full & original article HERE