#self-compassion — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #self-compassion, aggregated by home.social.
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I miss the past so much. What I miss more is that I wish I had been given the chance to do better.
#livedexperience #nostalgia #regret #selfcompassion #healing #reflections #mentalhealth #acceptance #growth #trauma #innerchild #resilience #perspective #truth
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Radical Acceptance For Each Draft
In her book Radical Compassion, Tara Brach talks about a Buddha statue that sat dull and covered in mud for many decades, if not centuries. Everyone that it was a dull statue. Nothing much to look at. Nothing to see there.And then there was an earthquake. Cra
https://authoryogi.eponaauthorsolutions.com/radical-acceptance-for-each-draft/
#CreativeNervousSystem #WritingProcess #FirstDraft #RadicalAcceptance #RadicalCompassion #SelfCompassion #TaraBrach -
My inner critic used to be a drill sergeant, but lately, I'm trying to fire him. We don't need to punish ourselves into wellness. Let's try treating our minds like a partner instead of a battlefield. 🤝🎨 #SelfCompassion #PositivityClub
Live your best life: SPEAKINGBIPOLAR.COM/CLUB
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I learned early rest was for the weak. Everything my family taught me said so.
My father taught hours, my mother graded late. The message was clear.
What voice drives you forward, and is it speaking with kindness or fear?
#discipline #selfcompassion #wellness
#hustleculture #productivity #guiltfreerest
#personalessay #reflectivewriting #embodiedpractice -
What if the biggest obstacle to your growth is not failure...
...but the way you speak to yourself after you fail?
My latest blog explores why self-compassion is a strength, not a weakness.
🌿 https://www.emberhart.com/the-strength-of-kindness-toward-yourself-why-self-compassion-helps-you-grow/
#SelfCompassion #Resilience #GrowthMindset #MentalHealth -
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” Ernest Hemingway
Maybe we’re not meant to have it all figured out, maybe we’re simply meant to keep learning as we go.
🧡
#learning #SelfCompassion
Picture by Positively Present -
DATE: August 19, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: The complex science of positive affirmations, and why they occasionally backfire
Scroll through social media and you’ll quickly encounter phrases like “I am worthy” or “I choose happiness”.
The tantalising promise is: repeat these positive affirmations often enough and you’ll be happier, calmer and even healthier.
Given we are biologically hardwired to avoid suffering and want to feel safe and happy, no wonder it is tempting. But is it backed by science? And are there downsides?
What are positive affirmations?
Self-affirmation theory was proposed by psychologist Claude Steele in the late 1980s and remains popular today. The theory suggests we have a deep desire to craft a personal narrative that we are “adequate” and “worthy”.
But painful experiences that trigger shame or embarrassment – such as getting bad grades, making a mistake at work or going through a break-up – can threaten this self-narrative.
You may become more self-critical, and this may make you more likely to experience anxiety, depression and even self-harm.
In contrast, self-affirmation theory suggests repeating positive ideas about yourself can protect you from these negative mental health symptoms, boosting your mood and sense of self-worth.
Is there evidence positive affirmations work?
Yes – in some contexts.
A review from 2025 combined and analysed results from 67 studies. These looked at the effects on participants’ wellbeing of writing positive affirmations or repeating them out loud.
The review found positive affirmations did have a meaningful impact on how participants viewed themselves and connected with others. But the effect was small.
Some studies have found repeating positive affirmations can protect social media users’ self-esteem and boost the overall mental health of university students.
One 2025 study looked at women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. It found those who listened to music alongside recordings of positive affirmations felt less depressed and drowsy, compared to those who listened only to music.
Another study from 2025 examined adults with depression symptoms, but no diagnosis. It found those who wrote personal positive affirmations twice daily reported better self-esteem after 15 days, compared to those who didn’t.
One frequently cited study from 2009 found repeating positive affirmations (for example, “I am a lovable person”) boosted mood. However this was only for people who already had high self-esteem. Those with low self-esteem – in other words, those with a low level of confidence and value in themselves – reported poorer mood.
While these studies show some promise, recent studies have failed to replicate these findings. More research is needed to see exactly who might benefit, and in what context.
The downsides of positivity
But is there any harm in using positive affirmations? Here are some risks to keep in mind.
Toxic positivity
Humans are imperfect and the world is often unfair. Pretending otherwise can lead to toxic positivity, which means suppressing or even denying difficult feelings. When you feel distressed, you may feel pressure to cope and simply “reframe” your thinking. You may feel ashamed when you can’t and be less likely to seek help.
Chasing dopamine
Repeating positive affirmations might give you a quick dopamine hit. Dopamine is the hormone linked to pleasure and reward, and can help us feel in control and competent. But the desire to always feel good is not realistic. And taken to the extreme, it can trap you in a cycle where you’re constantly seeking the next dopamine hit.
Downplaying real issues
Positive self-talk is only helpful in safe environments. In unsafe or harmful situations (for example, an abusive relationship) staying positive may blind you to potential dangers. Over-reliance on positive affirmations can detach you from what’s going on, and override gut instincts it may be better to listen to.
So, what does work?
Recent research suggests how we talk to ourselves may matter more than how positive the message is. Here are two approaches worth trying.
Show yourself compassion
Research shows cultivating a compassionate relationship with yourself, especially during stress or failure, can strengthen your resilience and improve your mental health. For example, telling yourself “this is hard” or “anyone would feel this way” can be more helpful than simply repeating upbeat affirmations. Sometimes being brave enough to acknowledge you’re suffering, and speaking to yourself like a good friend, is what you need.
Create some distance
Talking to yourself in the third person – for example, “Maddie is furious, but has handled far worse” rather than “I am furious” – can help. This creates distance between you and your thoughts, and is sometimes called “non-attachment”. This approach can help regulate emotions, encouraging us to approach feelings with curiosity, observing rather than just reacting to them.
The bottom line
Very few thinking styles are always beneficial or always harmful. The key is to be flexible, not rigid. This means regularly asking yourself “is that thought helpful?” and choosing the approach most suited to your situation.
And if that’s positive self-talk, try to use compassion and understanding – not just upbeat slogans.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PositiveAffirmations #SelfTalk #SelfCompassion #ToxicPositivity #MentalHealth #SelfEsteem #SelfAwareness #Wellbeing #DopamineHype #EmotionalResilience
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DATE: August 17, 2026
SOURCE: SOCIALWORKER.COMTITLE: Perfectionism in Social Work: How It Shows Up and How To Let It Go
In a profession built on relationships, authenticity and self-compassion will always take us further than perfection. When our goal becomes avoiding mistakes, we risk becoming more focused on protecting ourselves than connecting with clients.
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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PerfectionismInSocialWork #AuthenticityInHelp #SelfCompassion #SocialWorkRelationships #LettingGoOfPerfection #ClientConnection #ProfessionalWellbeing #BoundariesInCare #MistakesAsLearning #RelationalPractice
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Stop shrinking to fit places you’ve outgrown. By @colormehappii
#motivation #inspiration #positivevibes #mentalwellbeing #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #hope #ymhc #selfcare #selfcarematters #selfcompassion #wellbeing -
We are so quick to help others, but so hesitant to ask for help ourselves. Flip the script today: give yourself the same grace and compassion you so freely give to your best friend. 🌻 #SelfCompassion #PositivityClub
SPEAKINGBIPOLAR.COM/CLUB
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I’ve been quiet since I did a LOT of peopling and needed recovery time.
Went on a road trip with friends a week ago to Keremeos to see my mom as well as a friend I didn’t know had moved there. We stayed on an orchard. It was magical.
My mom was happy to see me and it was good to see her new care home. She had a fall when we were at her friend’s house and I beat myself up all week about it. Sigh. Trying to be kind to myself.
💟🌟💟
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Most suffering is not just pain, but resistance to pain. What shifts when you stop treating imperfection as a problem to fix? New piece on self-compassion and inner freedom. https://open.substack.com/pub/emberhart/p/managing-the-ego-in-a-world-that?r=4xblv5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
#InnerWork #SelfAwareness #Psychology #TrendingNow #Emberhart #selfcompassion #Suffering -
We are taught to improve ourselves endlessly, but rarely taught how to be with ourselves. Self-compassion asks a different question: what if nothing is wrong with being human? New essay now live. https://medium.com/p/af06d2e79079
#Emberhart #selfcompassion #Suffering #MindfulLiving #EmotionalHealth #PersonalDevelopment #MentalHealth -
A gentle reminder. You are allowed to go at your own pace.
#selfcare #selfcarematters #mentalwellness #mentalhealth #ymhc #wellbeing #selfcompassion #selfcaredaily -
All.I.Cannot.Be
A Prayer for Presence
May I be present
#contemplativePrayer #divinePresence #dreamscape #Faith #gentleness #Grace #Listening #luminousArt #Mindfulness #openness #Prayer #presence #sacredImagination #selfCompassion #SpiritualReflection #surrealPhotography #surrender #Trust #vintagePhotography #whalesInTheSky
to what is before me,
as present as I can be.
May I be open
to whomever is before me,
as open as I can be.
May I be in tune with Thee,
as in tune as I can be.
May I be gentle with myself,
as gentle as I can be.
For however little
I am present,
open,
listening,
or gentle,
Thou art able to be
all that I cannot be. -
Ever feel like you are “behind” in life? That feeling might not be truth, just comparison in disguise. https://www.tiktok.com/@emberhartco/video/7665622774815165718
#TikTok #SelfKindness #Mindset #TrendingNow #Emberhart #selfcompassion #Suffering -
What if the voice that judges you is the very thing blocking growth? New video: breaking the cycle of comparison through self-compassion. https://youtu.be/sulz70wivFo
#Emberhart #selfcompassion #Suffering #YouTube #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #MentalHealth -
Do you need high self-esteem… or a more stable sense of worth? This episode explores why self-compassion may be the real foundation of resilience. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1W8Y0xTMzIkiorVzkx6VcZ?si=Pj61PnxhSSacl9Sno7q9ew
#Emberhart #selfcompassion #Suffering #Podcast #EmotionalResilience #SelfGrowth #Wellbeing -
I thought strength meant pushing through. It's knowing when to stop.
The world teaches more is better. True discipline is paying attention.
What would change if you measured strength by listening instead of pushing?
#strength #listening #discipline
#bodywisdom #selfcompassion #mindfulness
#truestrength #innerwork #consciousliving -
July does not arrive with January’s clean-page confidence.
By mid-year, the plans have usually met real life: appointments, fatigue, interruptions, and the ordinary admin of having a body.
This reflection is about a quieter reset — not asking “where have I failed?” but “what is still helping me live steadily?”
Less judgement. More support.
Read the full reflection. https://shorturl.at/DtPSz
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It's official! The 'out of office' notification is on and I'm wrapping up work until September. Coming up: five weeks of travel across Japan 🇯🇵 and Mexico 🇲🇽.
I'm looking forward to returning with a stack of travel-related stories. And hopefully some clients who are still talking to me 😉
See you on the other side! ✈️
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"Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause." Cecilia Tran
#selfcare #selfcarematters #selfcaredaily #selfcompassion #mentalwellness #ymhc -
Self-care is how you take your power back." By Lalah Delia
#selfcare #selfcarematters #selfcareeveryday #selfcompassion #mentalhealth #ymhc -
If compassion doesn't include yourself, is it really compassion?
For years I practiced ahimsa by refusing animal products. But I harmed myself with depletion, rigidity, and the belief purity equaled worth.
How do you practice compassion toward yourself?
#ahimsa #selfcompassion
#compassion #mindfulness #yogaphilosophy
#wellbeing #spiritualpractice #authenticity