Self-Compassion Step by Step

The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

By: Kristin Neff

Narrated by: Kristin Neff PhD

A six-session training course for transforming your relationship with yourself.

Why does it feel so natural to be compassionate and kind to those we care about - yet so hard to treat ourselves the same way? "Our culture teaches us to use self-criticism for motivation and to build self-esteem by constantly measuring ourselves against everyone else," says Dr. Kristin Neff. "We need to re-learn the essential skill of being genuinely nurturing and supportive toward ourselves." With Self-Compassion Step by Step, this groundbreaking researcher reveals the clinically proven power of self-kindness, with practical training for cultivating an enduring and unshakable sense of your fundamental human worthiness.

Over the past decade, an overwhelming body of research has shown self-compassion to be a master key to good psychological and physical health. Whether you wish to reduce stress, develop healthy habits for exercise or diet, unlock your creativity, or even deal with serious conditions such as depression or addiction, a strong sense of self-compassion is an essential ingredient for success. Best of all, self-compassion is a skill that can be learned. Through six sessions of teaching, Dr. Neff offers guided meditations, experiential practices, and on-the-spot techniques to help you build a strong foundation of self-compassion in your daily life.

"We often become our own worst critic because we believe it's necessary to keep ourselves motivated," says Dr. Neff, "but in fact the research shows that healthy self-compassion increases our inner drive, our resilience to setbacks, and our ability to excel at work and in every aspect of life."

With Self-Compassion Step by Step, she presents a powerful training course that is both accessible and profoundly transformative - a practical approach for creating a life of greater happiness, fulfillment, and love.

©2013 Kristin Neff (P)2013 Kristin Neff

like therapy you can rewind

This is not a book, it's a course. It includes exercises, especially guided meditations, and slowly takes you through the concept of self-compassion. I found it very helpful.

The Perfect Guided Tutorial for Self-Compassion

Would you listen to Self-Compassion Step by Step again? Why?

Loved this Guided Tutorial for developing Self Compassion because it was the perfect balance between succinct teaching through story telling & lecture, then exercises & meditations to do self-work.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Self-Compassion Step by Step?

For me, it was the exercises that supported me through practicing my own self-compassion & beliefs about what I deserve & where they came from.

Which character – as performed by Kristin Neff – was your favorite?

Herself; I love that she goes slow enough for me to process as I listen. Normally, in a story book, a slower pace would drive me nuts, but in this case I was always thinking about how what she was saying related to me and my life so I didn't have to keep rewinding because my mind went off on a tangent & missed something.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I wanted to take each segment, or lesson, and focus on that for the day or a couple of days, then move on once I felt I really connected to the material. I didn't want to rush through it.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this book to you. Seriously, who doesn't need a more compassionate approach to living this sometimes challenging life?

Invaluable resource

I am so grateful to Kristin Neff for this amazing course. The techniques and meditations that she offers are the most helpful I have found in the field of self-compassion. I have recommended this program to all of my friends.

AMAZING book!!

Powerful and very inspiring. I am so grateful for Kristin Neff. This book really inspired me. Tons of wise insights. Her voice was very soothing to me. Like a kind compassionate mother. So many guided meditations. I mainly bought this for the meditations and was not disappointed. I am listening to them everyday as well as being more mindful of my body,emotions and showing self compassion for myself and others. Thank you Kristin! You helped me so much :-)

loved it

this book is an amazing to listen to in an audio format as Kristenvoice as soothing, her instructions are clear, and the practices are both rich and deep.

So great to have the story read by the author!!

I’ve listened to a couple other books by Kristin Neff, and the delivery of this one by the author in her own voice and with her own affect, is by far superior!
Thank you for writing, sharing, and reading this book Kristin Neff!

Really good "workshop" on self compassion

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would, its a really good book, it has very defined sections with exercises and even a "bell" and the space to make all the self reflections. I only think it takes different times to get through it since its a very personal experience. For me the last part of the book, lets say the last hour and a half, was very difficult to do, I had to redo it many times until I was able to do it. Her soft voice makes it easy as a process. The way all the book is structured is very clever and makes a lot sense. It would make a great addition for a young school class. Also, since its like a "workshop" it would work very well for a book club or a therapy group to do it together. Its just my opinion.
I also think it can get intense if you follow the instructions exactly, so I would recommend not to listen to all of it at the same moment on one sit, but take your time and do it at your own pace.

Who was your favorite character and why?

-

Which scene was your favorite?

I like the way she explains the exercises and the compassionate way she talks about different people and their possible situations. This is quality psychology researched work.

What did you learn from Self-Compassion Step by Step that you would use in your daily life?

This is a book that actually works very good as a type of "therapeutical" tool. Obviously is not the same as going to therapy, but its a really good self help book. I really liked it. I will listen to it again in the future and recommend it to friends. I think you can get a lot from it.

Any additional comments?

As this is a self reflecting type of book, it actually needs for you to take the time to do the exercises, some of them can be heavy or difficult if you are not already in therapy or looking for a way to heal. So it cannot be taken instead of therapy obviously. But surely is a great book and I think young people could get a lot from it. Is not necessary that you have "issues" to use this book. I think is kinda healthy to review the self compassion as a great tool to feel better and function better in life in general. Just my opinion doe.

I really like that the author reads it. She has a great voice.

Just Like A Conversation Between Friends

It's as if she is talking directly to you. Kristin's belief in what she is teaching is obvious. Highly recommended

The concept is great but I lost heart

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Once again it would be better if this was divided up into chapters, (surely this is easy to do?) I think this has ruined yet another potential book for me and I am beginning to lose heart in purchasing from audible because of it. (If I buy on CD for example it is laid out in chapters).

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

At the heart of this book is a great message, the reader comes across as really knowing her stuff and she carries it well. I like the meditations, (which is why I chose the audible version rather than the book).

Would you listen to another book narrated by Kristin Neff?

She has a nice soft voice but after a while I found her voice seemed to go up and down in a irritating way.

Any additional comments?

Please audible give us chapters!

Kirsten Neff provides as great program for self compassion

Self compassion step by step is well written and well spoken. The exercises are good and they are the core of the audiobook. There are minor point in the book that I disliked, but overall the book is well worth listening to.