63 - Why We’re Hard on Ourselves (and How to Break the Cycle)

What if you are already good enough, just the way you are?In today's episode, Elizabeth Mintun delves into a profound truth: that we don’t need to be fixed. She suggests that the struggles we experience are adaptations to our own unique nature and life experiences, rather than evidence of our brokenness. Elizabeth uncovers the top 5 reasons she has found that people are unkind to themselves, offers research-backed perspectives, and shares practical ways to cultivate kindness and self-compassion. Key Takeaways: Many people fear self-compassion will reduce motivation. Because so many of our negative and harsh self-talk is automatic, we may not even realize when we’re doing it. Lack of self-awareness can create barriers to moving towards greater self-acceptance. Resourceshttps://www.thecalmingground.com/free-guided-meditationIn this episode, Elizabeth quotes from these sources:https://selfcompassion.web.unc.edu/what-is-self-compassion/what-self-compassion-is-not/https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia/2021/01/15/the-benefits-of-resting-and-how-to-unplug-in-a-busy-world/https://sites.lifesci.ucla.edu/psych-pia/2020-10-15-using-self-compassion-to-reduce-negative-self-talk/#:~:text=o%20Self%2Dcompassion%20involves%20recognizing,will%20take%20time%20to%20cultivatehttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/break-free-from-3-self-sabotaging-ants-automatic-negative-thoughts-202211082847https://mindfulhealthsolutions.com/the-psychology-of-comparison-why-we-do-it-and-how-to-stop/#:~:text=Reduced%20Self%2DWorth,experience%20persistent%20negative%20self%2Dtalkhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2790748/#:~:text=In%20a%20study%20of%20self,the%20development%20of%20self%2Dcompassion