It's time to rewrite the narrative of self-criticism and embrace the transformative power of self-compassion. Dr. Diana Hill joins us from a writing retreat in Costa Rica to explore the challenges of self-criticism, the science behind self-compassion, and practical techniques for cultivating kindness toward oneself. Diana Hill, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, international trainer, and sought-after speaker on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and compassion. She also hosts the podcast Your Life in Process, author of The Self-Compassion Daily Journal, and the upcoming book Wise Effort. Throughout our discussion, Diana shares invaluable insights into the challenges of writing and self-criticism, drawing from her extensive expertise in psychology and personal experiences. Together, we explore the profound impact of cultural influences on self-esteem and individualism, shedding light on the societal pressures that can make practicing self-compassion a daunting task for many of us.   Here are a few key takeaways: - Self-compassion involves acknowledging suffering within oneself and offering help/kindness, while compassion also includes offering this to others. - Cultural and societal pressures like individualism and needing to "be special" can make self-compassion difficult. - Why self-compassion improves performance and motivation by allowing one to recognize non-aligned commitments. - Learn how embodiment practices like adopting compassionate postures can aid self-compassion over cognitive techniques alone. - How to approach difficult emotions with compassion through the body.   LINKS: - Listen to my first podcast about self-compassion with Dr. Kristin Neff - What is "fierce compassion"? Learn more from Dr. Kristin Neff - Tune into my solo episode about self-compassion - Learn more about psychological flexibility with Diana Hill