Why is it that we're so often able to show wells of compassion for other people, but can rarely find it for ourselves? In today's episode, Dr. Kristin Neff will help us answer this question. Kristin is widely recognized as one of the world's leading experts on self-compassion, being the first one to operationally define and measure the construct over a decade ago. She is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin and examines why we take this less-than-kind approach with ourselves, and how we basically respond with a "fight or flight" approach to ourselves--thinking that we can "whip ourselves into shape." Kristin shows us that we really don't have to beat ourselves up to change, and she outlines the steps to developing self-compassion. She encourages us that when we show the same kindness, support and encouragement to ourselves that we show others, we will radically change our lives.