“Just Try it” Kristin Neff Ph.D. is an internationally renowned self-compassion researcher and teacher, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, co-developer of the mindful self-compassion curriculum, and author of multiple books, Self Compassion- The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and Fierce Self-Compassion.  The purpose of self-compassion is to alleviate suffering. It does not have to be hard.  It can be as simple as being a good friend to yourself.   “The goal of practicing self-compassion is to be a compassionate mess” Self-compassion helps you shame yourself less and-- when shame pops up --as it will continue to do because you are human- to hold it with compassion.   Self-compassion helps you see the larger picture and know that you are not alone.    The reason self-compassion seems hard is that “we generally are not wise when we think about ourselves.”   Takeaways of why to practice self-compassion It is contagious.   The more resources you give to yourself - the more resources you have to give to others. It is much more effective than criticism as a motivator. It is action-oriented and helps you live an aligned and full life.   It is a way of protecting yourself, meeting your own needs, and caring for yourself so you can care for others.  Stay tuned at the end-  for her advice for parents on how to raise self-compassionate next generation. We are so excited to host Dr. Neff as our featured author at a Mindful Healthcare Collective Book Club on 1/27 at 5:30 pm Pacific, to discuss her new book Fierce Self-Compassion.  For details on the event please sign-up for email updates on mindfulhealthcarecollective.com  To find out more about Dr. Neff and self-compassion please check out her website https://self-compassion.org/ And to get more resources on Mindful Self-Compassion and the Self-Compassion Course for Healthcare Professionals please check out the Center for Mindful Self Compassion website https://centerformsc.org/ If you want to develop a mindfulness practice, reach out to Dr. Liang https://awakenbreath.org If you want to find calm, contentment, and a clear and meaningful path forward in areas of your life beyond relationships, explore private mindful coaching with Dr. Mahoney.   https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/.   Or join a Mindful Coaching Yoga and Culinary Medicine Retreat- Fall 2022 retreats are open for registration NOW. https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/yoga-coaching-retreat Connect with us and find out more about the Mindful Healers Podcast and our offerings at https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/mindful-healers-podcast Join the Mindful Healthcare Collective Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1443705385809109 *Nothing in this episode should be considered medical advice.