157: Unabridged Interview: Kristin Neff

May 28, 2024

Professor Kristin Neff discusses how self-compassion is more effective than self-esteem for human flourishing. She explains the negative effects of high self-esteem and the benefits of cultivating self-compassion. Kristin shares insights on how self-compassion can help us flourish amidst stress and suffering, with a brief mention of psychiatrist Curt Thompson's research on shame.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Redefining Self-Worth

01:35 • 4min

Cultivating Self-Compassion for Well-Being

05:23 • 21min

Exploring Cultural and Gender Influences on Self-Judgment

26:44 • 3min

Exploring Christian Theology's Influence on Self-Compassion

29:25 • 2min

Embracing Self-Compassion and Balancing Energies

31:07 • 12min

Interview with Kristin Neff and Truce Podcast Ad Mention

43:36 • 2min

This is our unabridged interview with Kristin Neff.

Is high self-esteem crucial to human flourishing, or, rather, a hindrance?

“The biggest problem with self-esteem is that it tends to be contingent,” says Kristin Neff. “We only feel good about ourselves when we succeed.” Far too often, high self-esteem breeds narcissism, bullying, and prejudice.

Kristin is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She’s also a prominent expert on the topic of self-compassion, which her research has found to be much more effective than self-esteem in helping people flourish. In this episode, she shares what makes self-compassion different from self-esteem, how to cultivate it, and how it can help us to flourish amidst stress, suffering, and everyday life. We also hear briefly from psychiatrist and author Curt Thompson illuminating the negative neurobiological effects of shame while Kristen explains how self compassion can remedy these effects.

Show Notes:

Similar episodes

Tara Brach: Radical Acceptance

Judith Moskowitz: How to Flourish Amidst Stress

Alfie Kohn: Why You Shouldn’t Punish–or Reward–Your Kids

Curt Thompson: The Soul of Shame

Resources mentioned this episode

Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

Self-Compassion.org

Why Self-Compassion Works Better than Self-Esteem

PDF of Lee’s Interview Notes

Transcript for Abridged Episode

JOIN NSE+ Today! Our subscriber only community with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, and discounts on live shows

See Privacy Policy: Privacy Policy

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: Tokens Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices