Disarm Self-Criticism with Self-Compassion

Self-Criticism–who isn’t familiar? In small doses, it helps us self-correct as we navigate our complicated world. It can open our eyes to where we might have done harm. It can show us where we need to improve. Sometimes it gives us the self-awareness to grow and change.

But when we criticize ourselves harshly for any mistake large and small, life gets unmanageable. It hacks away at our belief in ourselves. It pulls the rug out from under us as we try to take a risk. The voices of self-criticism can be so loud that they distract and undermine our focus. At this point, this self-talk is no longer self-correcting. In fact, psychologists find that it leads to self-doubt and feelings of shame.

Say we’ve made an ordinary mistake. Here comes Self -Criticism knocking at the door! It pelts our backs and ratchets up the stress level in an already uncomfortable situation.

Self-Compassion = the Breaks

We need something equally powerful to put a pause on our rapid fight, flight, fear, or submit response. That’s where self-compassion comes in! Kristin Neff, leading psychologist and co-creator of the Mindful Self Compassion course defines self-compassion as having three main themes: 

1- Self-kindness versus self-judgment
2- A sense of common humanity versus isolation
3- Mindfulness versus over-identification with painful self-judgement 

Here is a Quick Self-Compassion Meditation 

Fold your arms over your chest, giving yourself an inconspicuous hug.
Say to yourself:
1- “This is a point of suffering (or name feeling: sadness, confusion, anger, etc) at this moment.”
2- “I’m not alone. Every person on the planet goes through pain even if theirs is different than mine.”
3- “May I be gentle and kind with myself right now.”

Compassion and Affiliation Regulates Our Response to Threat

In a 2008 study, it was found that humans make threatening situations manageable through social connection. Social bonding sets off our mend-and-befriend response, and that produces oxytocin.

In my own desire to avoid self-criticism, I’ve blinded myself to my shortcomings and opted to find them in others instead. As fun as that can be sometimes, my fun is usually short-lived. Back to the drawing board as I focus inward. I might see that I’ve fallen short in some areas. Maybe I’ve (gasp) made a mistake! Here come the rubber bullets of self-criticism, pelting my back, beaning me on the head. I run for cover, I explode, I implode.

Studies find that self-criticism and shame trigger feelings of fear. Fear stimulates the amygdala, the brain’s alarm system. The amygdala sends signals to our instinctive survival response of fight, flight, freeze, or submit. Adrenaline and cortisol course through our veins. Suddenly we are in survival mode. The negative chatter goes on and on. We feel bad about ourselves, we feel angry at others. The bicycle of shame or blame is speeding down the hill, no breaks.

All this Caring Cues Our System to Make Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a potent, ancient hormone that produces feelings of contentment, well-being and safety. A 2020 study of oxytocin found that it’s linked to preventing inflammation, healing damaged tissue, inhibiting cancer growth, and protecting the gastrointestinal lining in both children and adults.

Oxytocin Helps Manage Our Chronic Stress

A 1998 study discovered that oxytocin prevents us from freezing with fear in the face of ongoing stressors.

What if We Gave Ourselves the Same Caring and Kindness We’d Give a Close Friend?

That warm, wonderful feeling of relief we get when talking to an understanding friend about our troubles?  We can provide that for ourselves with self-compassion.

We could actually trigger inner feelings of soothing, reassurance, and contentment for ourselves. We can feel that same happy feeling of being cared for by others by caring for ourselves.

Self-Compassion isn’t Self-Indulgent

We might think self-compassion is too self-centered, that it could let us off the hook for mistakes too easily. But it isn’t. Research shows that when we are kind to ourselves when we fail, we are naturally more motivated to self-correct. When we feel soothed and encouraged, we have strength to try again. We may feel soothed and safe enough to new things and change. 

When we feel safer, our defensiveness decreases. It becomes much easier to admit our mistakes.

When we feel empathy for ourselves, we can access patience for ourselves and others.

Mindful Self-Compassion Training

With all of the proven benefits of self-compassion, Kristin Neff and Paul Gilbert created a Mindful Self Compassion Training course to teach self-compassion skills. It’s an eight-week course designed to help people who struggle with high shame and self-criticism. 

Self-c0mpassion meditations and exercises are also available for free at www.self-compassion.org. Exercises like these can be used in daily life to provide immediate relief from self-criticism.

They can access our innate caring and befriending abilities and help us turn them towards ourselves.  ❤️

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References

Leaviss, J., & Uttley, L. (2015). Psychotherapeutic Benefits of Compassion-Focused Therapy: An Early Systematic Review. Psychological Medicine, 45(5), 927-945. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291714002141

Lucre, K.M., & Corten, N. (2013). An Exploration of Group Compassion-Focused Therapy for Personality Disorder. Psychology & Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 86(4), 387–400. https://DOI-org.scroll.lib.westfield.ma.edu/10.1111/j.2044-8341.2012.02068.x

Naismith, I., Santiago, Z.G., Feigenbaum, J. et al., (2019). Abuse, Invalidation, and Lack of Early Warmth Show Distinct Relationships with Self‐Criticism, Self‐Compassion, and Fear of Self‐Compassion in Personality Disorder. Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, 26:350–361. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2357

Neff, K. (2015). Self-Compassion HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

Thomason, S. & Moghaddam, N. (2021). Compassion-focused therapies for self-esteem: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice 94, 737–759. DOI: 10.1111/papt.12319

Please visit www.self-compassion.org for exercises in self-compassion