The relentless pursuit of high self-esteem has become a virtual religion. Our ultracompetitive culture tells us we need to be constantly above average to feel good about ourselves, but there is always someone more attractive, successful, or intelligent than we are. And even when we manage to grab hold of high self-esteem for a brief moment, we can't seem to keep it. Our sense of self-worth goes up and down like a Ping-Pong ball, rising and falling in lockstep with our latest success or failure.

Fortunately, there is an alternative to self-esteem that many experts believe is a better and more effective path to happiness: self-compassion. The research of Dr. Kristin Neff and other leading psychologists indicates that people who are compassionate toward their failings and imperfections experience greater well-being than those who repeatedly judge themselves. This book powerfully demonstrates why it's so important to be self-compassionate and give yourself the same caring support you'd give to a good friend.

Using solid empirical research, personal stories, practical exercises, and humor, Dr. Neff -- the world's foremost expert on self-compassion -- explains how to heal destructive emotional patterns so that you can be healthier, happier, and more effective.

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, Kristin Neff, William Morrow, Paperback, 320 pages, $21.99

Kristin Neff is an associate professor in the University of Texas at Austin's department of educational psychology.[1] Dr. Neff received her doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley, studying moral development. She did two years of postdoctoral study at the University of Denver studying self-concept development. She created the Self-compassion Scales.[2][3] The long scale consists of 26 items and the short scale consists of 12 items.[2][4] She has been credited with conducting the first academic studies into self-compassion.[5]

CONTENTS: Self-Compassion
	Acknowledgments	xi
Part One	Why Self-Compassion?	1
1	Discovering Self-Compassion	3
2	Ending the Madness	18
Part Two	The Core Components of Self-Compassion	39
3	Being Kind to Ourselves	41
4	We're All in This Together	67
5	Being Mindful of What Is	80
Part Three	The Benefits of Self-Compassion	107
6	Emotional Resilience	109
7	Opting Out of the Self-Esteem Game	135
8	Motivation and Personal Growth	159
Part Four	Self-Compassion in Relation to Others	185
9	Compassion for Others	187
10	Self-Compassionate Parenting	207
11	Love and Sex	221
Part Five	The Joy of Self-Compassion	243
12	The Butterfly Emerges	245
13	Self-Appreciation	267
	Notes	285
	Index	299