"Buck up." "Stop feeling sorry for yourself." "Don't ruin everything." When you are anxious, sad, angry, or lonely, do you hear this self-critical voice? What would happen if, instead of fighting difficult emotions, we "accepted "them? Over his decades of experience as a therapist and mindfulness meditation practitioner, Dr. Christopher Germer has learned a paradoxical lesson: We all want to avoid pain, but letting in--and responding compassionately to our own imperfections, without judgment or self-blame--are essential steps on the path to healing. This wise and eloquent book illuminates the power of self-compassion and offers creative, scientifically grounded strategies for putting it into action. You'll master practical techniques for living more fully in the present moment--especially when hard-to-bear emotions arise--and for being kind to yourself when you need it the most.

Foreword, Sharon Salzberg

Introduction

I. Discovering Self-Compassion

1. Being Kind to Yourself

2. Listening to Your Body

3. Bringing In Difficult Emotions

4. What's Self-Compassion?

5. Pathways to Self-Compassion

II. Practicing Loving-Kindness

6. Caring for Ourselves

7. Caring for Others

III. Customizing Self-Compassion

8. Finding Your Balance

9. Making Progress

Appendix A. Emotion Words

Appendix B. Additional Self-Compassion Exercises

Appendix C. Further Reading and Practice

Christopher Germer, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Lecturer on Psychiatry (part-time) at Harvard Medical School. His books with Kristin Neff include The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook and Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout (for the general public) and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program (for professionals). Dr. Germer is also author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion and coeditor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy. He lectures and leads workshops internationally and has a small psychotherapy practice in Massachusetts. His website is https://chrisgermer.com.