"Those higher in self-compassion judge themselves less, experience less depression and anxiety, use more adaptive coping strategies, are motivated to grow for intrinsic reasons (as opposed to for social approval), are more self-accepting, feel more socially connected, and report greater life satisfaction."
#BrookeSchwartz, 2022
https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-be-kinder-to-yourself-by-practising-self-compassion
Oof.
"Consider that your self-criticism is an act of violence on yourself, that you are standing over the dark hole in which you live, refusing to pass yourself a ladder to help yourself out."
#BrookeSchwartz, 2022
@strypey I'm not fond of that advice. Where is the line between self-compassion and sociopathic tendencies? If you think about the most awful people you know, I'm pretty sure they think of themselves as wonderful and never being in the wrong.
I think people should look at themselves as they are and not lie to themselves. Most of them are good, but some are genuine pieces of shit. Being able to tell the difference is crucial for a well-adjusted human. And that's impossible without a healthy level of self-criticism.
"Taking a compassionate approach to your failures and mistakes will increase your motivation to change your behaviour because the prospect of future ones becomes less threatening."
#BrookeSchwartz, 2022
@josemanuel It's worth reading the full article I'm quoting from. You've defined "self-criticism" quite differently to the author, for whom it means something more like 'self-condemnation'. What you are talking about is what I would call 'self-awareness' and yes, I agree that's an important thing. The author might say that self-compassion produces more self-awareness than does self-criticism (as they use the term), and without the negative side effects of the latter.