Episode 158: What is Self-Compassion with Gary Ritts
The self-help industry is FULL of concepts that are meant to inspire you into a better version of yourself—go big or go home, love yourself, rewrite your past.
But what happens when they’re overused and lose all their meaning? How can they then motivate you to live happier and more fulfilled?
And what about self-compassion?
I remember reading Tara Brach’s book, Radical Acceptance, where she tells a story about a woman’s mother who was dying. On her deathbed, the mother opened her eyes and said, “You know, all my life I thought something was wrong with me. What a waste.”
I can still remember where I was when I read that line. At that time self-compassion was NOT a part of my life. In fact, it was the exact opposite: I believed something was wrong with me and I was constantly looking for the fix. Kind of the opposite of self-love and self-compassion.
The bright side is that one line prompted my quest to figure out what self-compassion was and how it looked for me. It was a cautionary tale—and I swore I would figure out a way to be kinder to myself.
In today’s episode, I’m bringing you a conversation with my childhood minister, Gary Ritts. We started our conversation with self-compassion and went down a number of avenues beyond it into grace, empathy, Brene Brown, sympathy, loving relationships and kindness.
This is one of my favorite episodes I have ever recorded and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
- How self-compassion is radical self-care and what self-compassion can look like
- Ways that self-compassion can look for different people—and how to find ways to recharge yourself so you feel more complete and fulfilled
- Why compassion and self-compassion are a choice that requires practice by learning and doing
- How grace is something that is given to us—and why we can choose to accept it, even if we don’t think we are worthy
Learn more about Nancy:
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The Happier Approach Book
I’ve been working with women like you living with hidden anxiety every day for over 20 years as a coach and counselor.
I wrote The Happier Approach to give you a framework for dealing with your anxiety and start living happier.
The Happier Approach will help you understand the voices in your head and what to do with them. It’s not another woo-woo self-help book that asks you to think positively and live your best life. It’s a practical guidebook for getting out of survival mode and finding a genuinely happy and productive life.
Know someone who has High Functioning Anxiety and a VERY LOUD Monger, the Happier Approach makes a great gift.
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