1.Self-compassion has been linked to a range of psychological strengths, including happiness, optimism, wisdom, curiosity, personal initiative, and emotional intelligence (Heffernan et al., 2010; Hollis-Walker & Colosimo, 2011; Neff, Rude, & Kirkpatrick, 2007).
2.People who practice self-compassion are less afraid of failure (Neff, Hseih, & Dejitterat, 2005) and more likely to persevere when they experience setbacks (Neely et al., 2009).
3.Cultivating self-compassion has been found to increase motivation to change for the better, learn from mistakes, and avoid repeating past errors (Breines & Chen, 2012).
4.Self-compassion has also been shown to promote health-related behaviors such as adhering to a diet (Adams & Leary, 2007), quitting smoking (Kelly et al., 2009), and initiating a fitness program (Magnus et al., 2010).
5.Gilbert and Proctor (2006) suggest that self-compassion promotes emotional resilience by deactivating the threat system (associated with feelings of insecure attachment, defensiveness, and autonomic arousal) and activating the caregiving system (associated with feelings of secure attachment, safety, and the oxytocin-opiate system).
6.In a study by Rockliff et al. (2008), a brief self-compassion exercise was found to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increase heart rate variability, which is associated with greater self-soothing ability during stressful situations.
References
- Adams, C. E., & Leary, M. R. (2007). Promoting self-compassionate attitudes toward eating among restrictive and guilty eaters. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26(10), 1120-1144.
- Breines, J. G., & Chen, S. (2012). Self-compassion increases self-improvement motivation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(9), 1133-1143.
- Gilbert, P., & Proctor, S. (2006). Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self-criticism: Overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 13(6), 353-379.
- Heffernan, M., Griffin, B. J., McNulty, S. R., & Fitzpatrick, J. J. (2010). Self-compassion and emotional intelligence in nurses. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(4), 366-373.
- Hollis-Walker, L., & Colosimo, K. (2011). Mindfulness, self-compassion, and happiness in non-meditators: A theoretical and empirical examination. Personality and Individual Differences, 50(2), 222-227.
- Kelly, A. C., Zuroff, D. C., Foa, C. L., Foa, E. B., & Gilbert, P. (2009). The physiological effects of self-compassion on stress-related responses: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(10), 1-16.
- Magnus, C. M. R., Kowalski, K. C., & McHugh, T. L. F. (2010). The role of self-determined motivation in the understanding of exercise-related behaviours, cognitions and physical self-evaluations. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28(1), 91-99.
- Neff, K. D., Hseih, Y. P., & Dejitterat, K. (2005). Self-compassion, achievement goals, and coping with academic failure. Self and Identity, 4(3), 263-287.
