“I’m not as good as I should be.” It’s a common refrain from many of our patients. Helping them trade self-judgment for self-compassion is an essential first step in creating real change. Watch below as Tara Brach, PhD talks more about this and what needs to be in place before we can become truly free […]
Can self-compassion improve through mindfulness?
You shouldn’t kick yourself when you’re down . . . . . . but sometimes it’s hard not to. Even if we’re compassionate toward others, we can still be our own worst critics. Mindfulness meditation really works. And self-compassion is one of its key benefits. Kristen Neff, PhD, from the University of Texas-Austin, and Christopher […]
Could Mindfulness Reduce the Effect of Discrimination?
Many of us have seen the harmful effect of stereotypes. In fact, some stereotypes are so pernicious, they can actually hinder performance. When people are worried about being stereotyped – like “girls are bad at math” – they become more anxious, affecting results in school, on the job, or in other situations. This is stereotype […]
Does mindfulness meditation make you more compassionate?
Can mindfulness meditation training make you more compassionate? We’d all like to hope so . . . . . . but we’re biased. Most people probably think of themselves as compassionate, so it’s easy for us to believe that meditation training is working. A group of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco wanted […]
Could Mindfulness Meditation Help People Quit Smoking?
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Despite years of treatment, research, and activism, we still don’t have a really effective program to help people quit smoking. The traditional behavioral treatments haven’t improved much over time. But what if mindfulness meditation could do what traditional programs don’t? Judson Brewer, […]