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Most of us are far kinder to strangers than we are to ourselves. We offer warmth, patience, and understanding to everyone around us, and yet when we struggle, we reach for the harshest possible voice. Why is that? And more importantly, what can we do about it?
This week on Live Well Be Well, we are exploring the profound and life-changing power of self-compassion, bringing together five extraordinary voices:
- Dr. Kristen Neff, whose 20 years of research built the scientific foundation of self-kindness;
- Professor Paul Gilbert, founder of Compassion-Focused Therapy;
- Philosopher and author Alain de Botton;
- Bestselling author Oliver Burkeman;
- and gut health physician Dr. Will Bulsiewicz.
We dive deep into the biological and psychological reasons why we fight ourselves, and how shifting from a "threat" mindset to one of "care" can fundamentally change our health.
Here’s what we explore together:
- The Three Pillars of Self-Compassion: Dr. Kristen Neff explains why you need kindness, mindfulness, and a sense of shared humanity to truly heal.
- Hacking the Nervous System: Professor Paul Gilbert discusses how to move from a "fight, flight, or freeze" response into a "tend and befriend" state.
- The Origins of the Inner Critic: Alain de Botton reveals how we internalize the voices of authority from our past and how to start a "goodbye ceremony" to those that no longer serve us.
Love,
Sarah Ann 💛
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👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read
The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/
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If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:
The #1 BETTER HEALTH Technique You Never Knew Existed! Dr Kristin Neff
https://youtu.be/jKq069w4rjI
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***
Highlights00:00:00 Intro
00:01:13 Dr. Kristen Neff: The three elements of self-compassion
00:04:38 Why our nervous system defaults to self-criticism
00:07:00 The "What would I say to a friend?" reframe
00:10:00 Why self-compassion is a more effective motivator than criticism
00:12:02 Alain de Botton: the inner critical voice and where it comes from
00:14:43 Why some believe harsh self-talk drives them forward
00:18:01 Oliver Burkeman: a personal journey through self-compassion
00:22:25 How childhood patterns shape the way we treat ourselves
00:26:17 The missing step in optimization and productivity culture
00:29:06 Paul Gilbert: compassionate self vs the compassionate mind
00:32:34 Dr. Will Bulsiewicz: gut health is about far more than food
