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Dr. Kristin Neff

@neffselfcompassion

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Self-Compassion Pioneer
Teacher • Researcher • Author
Founder & President: Self-Compassion Institute
New Book: Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout

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I enjoyed speaking with Lorraine Hobbs about self-compassion for children during a recent guest conversation within the Self-Compassion Community.
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Self-compassion is a skill children can begin developing early in life. Simple practices like placing a hand on the heart, offering kindness, and becoming curious about our emotions can help children learn how to care for themselves when things feel difficult.
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Lorraine shares how helping children feel seen, soothed, safe, and secure can support healthy emotional development. Using curiosity and even a little detective work, children can learn to notice what they’re feeling, where emotions show up in their bodies, and how to respond to themselves with care.
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If you want to learn more about Sparkle AI (a self-compassionate companion for children), comment "sparkle" and we'll DM you the link.
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If you’d like to watch the rest of our conversation, comment “COMMUNITY” to join the Self-Compassion Community. You’ll gain access to live Zooms and recordings with guest experts like Lorraine Hobbs, monthly Q&As with me, drop-in group mentor sessions, a self-compassion practice toolkit, and a self-paced Self-Compassion Intro Course.
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#LorraineHobbs #SelfCompassion #SelfCompassionForChildren by @neffselfcompassion

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7 hours ago

Many of us believe that being hard on ourselves is what keeps us motivated. But research shows the opposite — self-criticism causes anxiety and undermines our confidence, while self-compassion helps us to stay resilient and keep going after setbacks. by @neffselfcompassion

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a day ago

Join our community for a guest conversation with Laurie Santos, a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and a leading expert on the science of happiness and human cognition. She studies how our minds mislead us about what truly makes us happy and shares evidence-based strategies to help people make wiser choices and live more fulfilling lives.
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Join Kristin Neff for a conversation with Laurie Santos as she shares her research-backed insights into happiness, decision-making, and well-being.
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🗓️ When: Wednesday, October 7th
⏰ Time: 7:30 – 8:30 PM CT
📍 Where: Zoom
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💬 Comment “LAURIE” below and I’ll DM you a link to sign up. Note that this event is only open to Self-Compassion Community members, but you can get a one-time guest pass. by @neffselfcompassion

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2 days ago

There’s a paradox at the heart of self-compassion. Although the word “self” is right there in the name, self-compassion actually represents a movement away from the perspective of self.
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When we’re struggling, self-compassion helps us move from self-judgment to kindness, from isolation to common humanity, and from over-identification to mindfulness.
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In my latest blog post, I explore how self-compassion can help us become less contracted around “me and my problems” and experience being more spacious, connected, and loving. It’s a movement from the perspective of the suffering self to the perspective of compassionate presence.
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This month, I invite you to take the Self-Compassion Scale and look not only at your overall score, but at the individual components. Where do you tend to get caught or stuck? And where might mindfulness, common humanity, or kindness help you loosen that grip?
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Comment “BLOG” and I’ll send you the link to read the full post and take the Self-Compassion Scale.
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#SelfCompassion #SelfCompassionScale #Mindfulness #CommonHumanity #SelfKindness #Compassion #EmotionalResilience by @neffselfcompassion

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3 days ago

The Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion is a six-week live online course that teaches the core practices of the empirically supported Mindful Self-Compassion program in a format that fits your busy life.
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SC-MSC covers the essential skills of self-compassion — responding to difficulty with kindness and support, motivating ourselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism, working with painful emotions, and sustaining compassion for others — in just 9 hours of live instruction, spread across six weeks.
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Every course is taught live via Zoom by one of our highly trained Self-Compassion Community (SCC) mentors. What’s unique about our offering is that every registration includes 6 months of Self-Compassion Community membership - allowing you to deepen your learning and integrate it into daily life. Get access to monthly Gatherings with Kristin, weekly mentor sessions, 50+ guided audio practices, and more.
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Three start dates are available:
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📅 Saturdays starting October 10th — with James Rosser (12:00 PM CT)
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📅 Wednesdays starting November 4th — with Aimee Eckhardt (5:30 PM CT)
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Tuition is $395. Scholarships are available. CE credits offered for licensed professionals.
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Comment “COURSE” below, and we’ll DM you the registration link! by @neffselfcompassion

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4 days ago

Feeling anxious? You’re not alone. In a world filled with uncertainty, anxiety can feel overwhelming. But there’s a simple way to ground yourself when those feelings arise.
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The Soles of the Feet practice can help you stay centered in the face of anxiety. By focusing on the sensations in your feet, you can anchor your attention, calm your mind, and reconnect with the present moment.
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Want to try it out? Comment “GROUNDED” and we’ll DM you a guided practice to help you feel grounded and stable when difficult emotions arise.
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#MindfulSelfCompassion #AnxietyRelief #GroundingPractice #SelfCompassion #MentalHealth #SolesOfTheFeet by @neffselfcompassion

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5 days ago

When you spend your days caring for others, it can be easy to put your own needs at the very bottom of the list.
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When caregivers practice self-compassion, they’re less likely to burn out because they’re giving themselves the care, energy, and support they need to keep going.
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And there’s something else that matters: how we care for ourselves shapes how we show up for the people we care for.
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When we’re overwhelmed, exhausted, and hard on ourselves, that stress can affect the people around us. When we meet ourselves with compassion, we bring a more open and caring presence to our relationships.
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Every time you pause, acknowledge that something is hard, and offer yourself some kindness, you’re filling your cup so you have more to give.
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Self-compassion may be one of the most important forms of care a caregiver can practice. I'll be teaching teaching a workshop on Saturday, December 5th. Comment "CAREGIVER" we'll DM you link to register.
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#SelfCompassion #CaregiverBurnout #Caregivers #BurnoutPrevention #Compassion by @neffselfcompassion

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6 days ago

In honor of World Mental Health Day, join us for The Courage to Care, hosted by @centerformsc. This three-hour live online masterclass and fundraiser will feature Rick Hanson, PhD; Chris Willard, PhD; and Lisa Baylis, MEd, with a welcome from Christopher Germer, PhD, and an opening meditation by Kristin Neff, PhD.
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Explore how self-compassion and courageous care can help us navigate uncertainty, connect with community, and take compassionate action for ourselves and our world.
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🗓️ Saturday, October 10
⏰ 9 am–12 pm PT | 12–3 pm ET | 4–7 pm UTC
📍 Where: Zoom
🌟 90-day replay included
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Save $25 with code KristinCourage25
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Proceeds support the nonprofit mission and work of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.
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💬 Comment “COURAGE” below, and I’ll DM you the registration link. by @neffselfcompassion

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7 days ago

When we take the time to care for ourselves, we can keep showing up for the people we love without feeling drained.
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#SelfCompassion #KristinNeff by @neffselfcompassion

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9 days ago

I enjoyed speaking with Paul Gilbert about Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) during a recent guest conversation within the Self-Compassion Community.
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When shame takes hold, it can leave us with a deep sense of being alone, rejected, or somehow unworthy of connection. Paul explains how CFT helps us move beyond the surface triggers of shame and understand the deeper fears underneath them.
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Rather than trying to argue with someone about whether their shame is justified, CFT creates space to meet the lonely and hurting parts of ourselves with compassion. Through compassionate imagery, dialogue, and validation, we can begin to develop a different relationship with those parts of ourselves — one that offers understanding, connection, and care.
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If you’d like to watch the rest of our conversation, comment “COMMUNITY” to join the Self-Compassion Community. You’ll gain access to live Zooms and recordings with guest experts like Paul Gilbert, monthly Q&As with me, drop-in group mentor sessions, a self-compassion practice toolkit, and a self-paced Self-Compassion Intro Course.
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#PaulGilbert #CompassionFocusedTherapy #CFT #SelfCompassion #Compassion #Shame by @neffselfcompassion

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10 days ago

Attachment can add to our suffering when we resist what’s painful or hold tightly to what we don’t want to lose.
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Self-compassion can help us loosen that attachment. When we meet our experience with kindness, mindfulness, and a sense of common humanity, we can become less identified with what’s happening and more able to be present with it.
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We don’t have to force the pain away or make ourselves feel better. We can simply offer ourselves compassion because we’re hurting.
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In doing so, we begin to let go of some of the resistance that can turn pain into greater suffering.
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#SelfCompassion #Attachment #Suffering #Mindfulness by @neffselfcompassion

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12 days ago

Self-compassion is a powerful practice that can transform how we relate to ourselves. Here are four simple yet profound ways to bring more kindness and care into your life:
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1️⃣ Ask yourself, 'What do I need?': Pause for a moment and check in. Do you need rest, reassurance, movement, or connection? Listening to yourself with curiosity and care is a powerful act of self-compassion.
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2️⃣ Treat Yourself Like a Friend: Speak to yourself with the same kindness and understanding you’d offer a dear friend.
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3️⃣ Supportive Touch: A gentle hand on your heart or a comforting self-hug can soothe and ground you in moments of distress.
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4️⃣ Write a Self-Compassionate Letter: Put pen to paper and offer yourself words of comfort and encouragement, just as you would to someone you love.
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🌸 Have you tried any of these self-compassion practices? Share your favorite one below!
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#SelfCompassion #Mindfulness #SelfCare #Kindness #MindfulLiving by @neffselfcompassion

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13 days ago