Psychologist: Allowing all emotions skillfully means approaching feelings with a different perspective. One of the strategies is Dr. Kristin Neff's self-compassion break, where you take a moment to really acknowledge that this is a difficult moment. And then reminding yourself that that's part of being human. This doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you, anything bad about you.
Lots of us hit the gym in January to get fit - but should we also be exercising our minds in preparation for tough times? A daily "self-talk workout" might be just as beneficial as squats and push-ups, says Seattle University psychology professor Rachel Turow.
By practicing simple self-compassion exercises each day - such as breathing techniques - we can prepare for future challenges when we'll need those tools to help us tackle crippling self-criticism or paralyzing sorrow.
Further reading: The Self Talk Workout by Rachel Turow
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