Leading Self-Compassion Expert Has New Book on Self Kindness and Mindfulness - April 13, 2011

Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind - Self Compassion, Kristin Neff, Ph.D. Dr. Kristin Neff, an associate professor in the College of Education’s Department of Educational Psychology and the leading national expert on self-compassion, has a new book coming out on April 19 titled “Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up & Leave Insecurity Behind.”

Neff has spent more than a decade studying the relatively new concept of self-compassion, lectures internationally on the topic and leads workshops on it. She published the first journal article ever in which self-compassion was identified and detailed and is creator of the Self-compassion Scale, which is used by researchers worldwide. Neff also was featured in the book and film “The Horse Boy,” which chronicles her family’s journey with autism and demonstrates the power of self-compassion when facing difficult life challenges.

"A portable friend to all readers — especially but not only women — who need to learn that the Golden Rule works only if it’s reversible: We must learn to treat ourselves as well as we wish to treat others. "

— Gloria Steinem on Neff’s book "Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up & Leave Insecurity Behind"

Her new book is written for the layperson and includes anecdotes, personal examples and chapter-by-chapter exercises. In it, she explores the benefits of self-compassion. Among other things, practicing self-compassion involves treating one’s self with as much compassion as one would treat a good friend; using self-compassion rather than self criticism to motivate self and others to make healthy changes; and when one fails or faces difficulties, accepting one’s imperfections and being compassionate toward self.

Neff recently began a controlled study to determine whether teaching self-compassion — and its three major elements, which are self kindness, common humanity and mindfulness — actually leads to lower stress, depression and anxiety and more happiness and life satisfaction.

Neff will be at Book People bookstore in Austin on May 3 at 8 p.m. to discuss her new book and research.

For more information about Neff and her work, as well as suggested readings and meditations, visit self-compassion.org.

—Kay Randall, University Communications, 512-232-3910

(Story adapted from McGuckin PR news release.)