CHAPTER 23
Practice Self-Compassion
by Christopher Germer
IF A GOOD FRIEND TELLS YOU about an ordeal they’re facing or a mistake they’ve made, how do you typically respond? In all likelihood, you’ll offer kindness and comfort, perhaps speaking in a warm and soothing tone, and maybe offering a hug to show how much you care. When your friend recovers and the conversation continues, chances are that you’ll expand your support by encouraging your friend to take necessary action or try to discover how to steer clear of similar difficulties in the future.
Now reflect for a moment how you might you treat yourself when you make a big mistake or experience a setback. It’s likely that you’d be much tougher on yourself—that you’d spring to self-criticism ...
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