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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Read this for my mental health book club. Highly recommend for anyone who struggles with this concept or thinks that they DONT have a problem with self-compassion but still has inner voices beating them up and causing anxiety and stress cycles. Lots of invaluable information and ideas in here, lots of practical exercises and tactics to implement. I did not think that all of the author's personal stories were always 100% aligned with the topic she was discussing and I think overall, this would have been stronger if some of her personal stories were omitted and if she had included more real world examples of OTHERS' experiences. Overall an excellent little therapy sesh.
The concepts are helpful.
Definitely food for thought.
Definitely food for thought.
I made it exactly halfway through this book but already it has helped me SO much and I hope to return to it someday. Kristin gives great meditation or writing exercises that helps apply her topics. She articulates the experience of isolation by self condemnation so well and explains how we can see the humanity in ourselves and others by truly understanding that we are all in the same boat of life. The experiences may be different but our core desires for love, safety, companionship, etc. are all the same and that alone makes me feel more connected to others and, I hope a more compassionate person.
"When we focus on our shortcomings without taking the bigger human picture into account, our perspective tends to narrow. We become absorbed by our own feelings of insufficiency and insecurity. When we're in the confined space of self-loathing, it's as if the rest of humanity doesn't even exist...Somehow it feels like I am the only one who is being dumped, proven wrong, or made a fool of."
"Sadly, however, our culture tells us to notice how we are unique from others, not how we are the same."
"When we focus on our shortcomings without taking the bigger human picture into account, our perspective tends to narrow. We become absorbed by our own feelings of insufficiency and insecurity. When we're in the confined space of self-loathing, it's as if the rest of humanity doesn't even exist...Somehow it feels like I am the only one who is being dumped, proven wrong, or made a fool of."
"Sadly, however, our culture tells us to notice how we are unique from others, not how we are the same."
This will sound cheesy but this has been a real game-changer for my internal monologue, as well as in how I help others who are struggling with something. I would highly recommend this to anyone!
I read this, because it was mentioned in Brene Brown's "The Gifts of Imperfection." In fact, the cover on my book has a blurb by Brown and the subtitle is "The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself" instead of "Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind."
It's a great read. I highly recommend it!
It's a great read. I highly recommend it!
there are certainly some good ideas in here and i think i would recommend a few chapters to some clients, but this could have been significantly shorter, and Neff’s weird horror at having an autistic son left a sour taste in my mouth.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Saying this book changed my life would be an over statement - I just finished it, is my life actually changed? But - I did borrow the audiobook from the library per my counselor's recommendation and part way through listening to it, bought the physical copy so I could read it again later. My memory for books is not that long, unless they make a lasting impression. Sometimes when I go back to my old 5-star reviews and can't recall anything about it, I question why I gave it 5 stars in the first place.
I am a very pessimistic person who tends to dwell in negativity, and just coming out of a recent low (winters and SAD can bite me) - this book gives you some real tools for living a happier life. I'm not saying I'll suddenly not be a negative person, but I now know where that can go.
I am a very pessimistic person who tends to dwell in negativity, and just coming out of a recent low (winters and SAD can bite me) - this book gives you some real tools for living a happier life. I'm not saying I'll suddenly not be a negative person, but I now know where that can go.
This is hard book to review. I gained a good understanding of the whys and hows of self compassion as it seems to be used in mental health (or at least, how it is used by the last two mental health professionals I have seen). I can see its potential as a useful tool for dealing with mood disorders. That said, the author went a little too "woo" for me, especially in the second half. This is offputting to me, but it might be just fine, even welcome for others. If you are interested in the concept and practice of self-compassion, I would recommend this book (or at least its first half) as a good introduction.