The Physiology of Self-Compassion by Dr Kirstin Neff

For the past decade or so I’ve been conducting research on self-compassion and have found that people who are compassionate to themselves are much less likely to be depressed, anxious, and stressed, and are much more likely to be happy, resilient, and optimistic about their future. In short, they have better mental health.

The power of self-compassion is not just an idea – it’s very real and actually manifests in our bodies. When we soothe our own pain we are tapping into the mammalian care-giving system.

An illuminating and uplifting article on Dr Kristin Neff’s site. Scroll to the right for the second page. 5 min read per page. It has practical tips which you can use right now to improve your mental health and wellbeing. I strongly recommend it.

Try this self-compassion break, it is a six minute mindfulness practice session.

Are you a shark or a teddy? How understanding conflict styles can help you overcome fights with friends and family 

In the course of a lifetime, it is difficult to avoid hurting, upsetting, or being in conflict with people we love. It is an inevitable part of most lives and learning how to negotiate it is a more useful and realistic goal than avoiding it. The first step is understanding what makes relationship conflict so difficult and the different approaches people have to it.

Read this article and extend your self-compassion to the realm of conflict. 4.5 min read.