Dr. Kristin Neff, pioneering self-compassion researcher, author, and teacher, talks about the power and benefits of practicing self-compassion as parents to differently wired children.

In our conversation, Kristin shares what she has learned about self-compassion, both through her research and her own experiences parenting an autistic child. She goes deep into what self-compassion really looks like, why we are often more compassionate to others than ourselves, and shares some strategies for strengthening that self-compassion muscle both for ourselves and our kids.

ABOUT DR. NEFF

Kristin Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion over fifteen years ago. She has co-developed an empirically supported training program called Mindful Self-Compassion, and is author of the books Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals.

THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:

How Dr. Neff got into the work of self-compassion research

What it looks like to practice self-compassion

Why we judge ourselves so harshly and what keeps us from being a better self-friend

What it means to practice self-comfort

Strategies parents can use to accept and BE with their suffering

How to teach kids and teens about self-compassion

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Dr. Kristin Neff’s website

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff

The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive by Kristin Neff:

Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer

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