#96 Self-Compassion: The Simple, Scientifically-Demonstrated Super Power of Speaking Kindly to Yourself | Dr. Chris Germer

Throughout the day, we engage in self-talk.  That voice we hear—our own—is normal and at the heart of our thoughts.  Sometimes the voice is kind.  Sometimes it’s neutral.  And sometimes it’s quite mean and we beat up on ourselves.  Some of us may even admit to being quite skilled at beating up on ourselves. Why do we do this?  Is it helpful? Spoiler alert: not so much. Turns out when our self-talk is filled with criticism, we tend not to perform at our best.  It’s as if we go through life with a bunch of haters booing in our ears.  That can bring on feelings of shame, increase anxiety, and make us less loving toward others. Wouldn’t it be cool if we could opt for a gentle, wise, loving voice?  How about the loving, encouraging voice we might use on a friend? And what would happen if we could tune into that encouraging voice and make that the inner voice we listened to more frequently throughout the day? Spoiler alert: lots of good stuff!  The science overwhelmingly supports practicing self-compassion as being good for our minds, bodies, relationships, and our abilities to perform at our best. As you will hear in this interview, self-compassion was hardly studied 20 years ago. Fortunately, in recent years, it has been under the microscope thanks to the pioneering work of two amazing people, one of whom is the guest on this interview.  Dr. Chris Germer (https://chrisgermer.com/) is a psychologist in private practice who also teaches at Harvard Medical School and to audiences worldwide. He has authored several books, including The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, which Library Journal lauded as one of the Best Consumer Health Books in 2009. In this interview, he generously shares his expertise on how to practice self-compassion and the benefits it will play in your life. So, listen in, as Chris and I talk about why and how to practice the simple, scientifically-supported superpower of speaking kindly to yourself called self-compassion. And, as always, the content on SuperPsyched is for informational purposes only and not intended to diagnose or provide any kind of healthcare treatment. For that, please consult your doctor. Book link: https://amzn.to/3qOiPMU This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).