#139 - Kristin Neff, Ph.D.: The power of self-compassion

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

November 30, 2020

Duration

1h 16m

Channel

Peter Attia MD

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Kristin Neff is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas, author, and a leading expert on mindful self-compassion. In this episode, she shares how developing a self-compassion and mindfulness practice was the most effective tool for relieving her own suffering, and provides strategies and tactics to improve self-compassion and well-being. We discuss: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:30 - The life crisis that turned Kristin to mindfulness and self-compassion 00:09:45 - How mindful self-compassion relieved Kristin’s feelings of self-judgement, and the psychology that says we all have the capacity for self-compassion 00:17:15 - Peter’s history of self-criticism and his personal practice of self-compassion 00:20:15 - The problem with prioritizing self-esteem over self-compassion, and how self-compassion produces a more stable version of self-worth 00:26:15 - An argument for self-compassion over self-criticism for optimizing performance 00:31:45 - How and when to introduce self-compassion to children 00:36:45 - Learning her son had autism—a personal story of how Kristin used mindfulness and self-compassion 00:40:00 - Self-compassion for cases of childhood trauma, PTSD, and overcoming a “fear of compassion” 00:49:30 - The relationship between self-compassion and physical health 00:52:30 - Distinguishing between self-compassion and self-pity, and the three necessary components self-compassion 00:55:45 - Why self-criticism comes from a desire to be safe, the circular pattern of self-judgment, and self-compassion as the ultimate motivator 00:58:45 - Potential role of a self-compassion practice for addiction and other maladaptive behaviors 01:01:45 - Clinical applications and practical uses of self-compassion 01:04:45 - Why you don’t need to meditate to learn mindfulness and self-compassion 01:08:40 - Kristin’s personal meditation practice 01:11:45 - Resources for learning self-compassion Show notes page: https://peterattiamd.com/kristinneff/ About: The Peter Attia Drive is a weekly, ultra-deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing health, longevity, critical thinking…and a few other things. With over 30 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including fasting, ketosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more. Peter is a physician focusing on the applied science of longevity. His practice deals extensively with nutritional interventions, exercise physiology, sleep physiology, emotional and mental health, and pharmacology to increase lifespan (delay the onset of chronic disease), while simultaneously improving healthspan (quality of life). Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com/ Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/ Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/ Connect with Peter on: Facebook: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDTW Instagram: http://bit.ly/PeterAttiaMDIG Subscribe to The Drive: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveApplePodcasts Overcast: http://bit.ly/TheDriveOvercast Spotify: http://bit.ly/TheDriveSpotify Google Play: http://bit.ly/TheDriveGooglePlay

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Peter Attia

  host

  Physician and host of “The Drive” podcast focused on longevity, medicine, and health.

• Kristin Neff

  guest

  Psychologist and self-compassion researcher known for co-developing the Mindful Self-Compassion program.

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Peter Attia MD, featuring Peter Attia and Kristin Neff, #139 - Kristin Neff, Ph.D.: The power of self-compassion explores kristin Neff Explains Self-Compassion Versus Self-Esteem, Self-Criticism, Trauma, and Health Neff traces her path from moral-development research to self-compassion, beginning when a personal crisis led her to a Thich Nhat Hanh meditation group where she learned to be actively kind to herself.

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