Sally Kohn: Self-criticism does kind of work, but the motivation comes from fear. She says self-compassion is linked to a learning goal orientation as opposed to performance goals. Kohn: A new study that isn't even published yet taught NCAA sports teams how to be warm and supportive when they were having trouble in their training routine or if they lost in their sport.
Self-compassion isn't selfish, says psychologist Kristin Neff, a pioneer in research on the topic. Kristin busts cultural myths about self-compassion, such as the idea that it makes us lazy or self-indulgent, and explains why it’s actually a more effective motivational tool than self-criticism. She also breaks down why fostering more self-compassion is a better strategy than trying to boost self-esteem and offers some simple practices for being kinder to ourselves.
If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend this one from the archives: “The Science of Our Inner Voice.”
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