Here's a quick, three-minute tip where we break down a mental health or personal development topic in 180 seconds to help you shift or reframe your perspective.

Today's topic explores self-compassion and how we can use it to motivate ourselves, in spite of the misperception that if we're too nice or lenient with ourselves, then we'll never achieve anything.

That type of thinking actually motivates through fear, which can be a pretty powerful motivator, but it's not always the most effective. 

In fact, self-criticism can often get in the way of our goals because it can contribute to things like perfectionism, anxiety, stress, depression and low self-esteem.

Self-compassion, on the other hand, cannot only interrupt self-criticism and its downsides, but it also motivates because it fosters resilience and more of a growth mindset. 

When we're kinder to ourselves, we tend to feel more relaxed and open and ideally less afraid to make mistakes, try new things or to get back up when something fails. 

We also tend to be more open-minded or curious, which can make it easier to see setbacks and perceived failures as opportunities for growth. 

For example, a study published in 2023 found that college athletes who intentionally practiced self-compassion were more likely to see improvements in perceived performance and they experienced lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress compared to their fellow athletes who did not intentionally practice self-compassion.

Research cited:  Resilience and Enhancement in Sport, Exercise, & Training (RESET): A brief self-compassion intervention with NCAA student-athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise

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*Disclaimer: The information contained in this episode is for the sole purpose of being informative and is not considered complete. It should not replace consultation with a qualified professional.