One of my English 1 students recently said, “I hate myself when I write essays.” Another student turned to her and said, “I thought I was the only one who did that.” Negative self-talk is very common among my students, so I’ve been looking for research on alternative strategies. I’m glad I finally discovered the work of Dr. Kristin Neff, who has been studying “self-compassion” for twenty years. She has found that self-critics are less likely to achieve their goals and are more likely to lose faith in themselves. Neff recommends using a strategy of awareness, acceptance, and compassion instead.
Neff, Kristen. Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. William Morrow. 2011, p.11.