If you’ve ever ended the day feeling like a failure and critiquing every misstep, then this episode on practicing self-compassion is for you.

As a licensed marriage and family therapist and life coach, Kim Fredrickson has counseled and taught others about self-compassion for years. When she received an unexpected terminal diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, a rare side-effect of the treatment she had received for breast cancer, she wrote a book to leave for her children on giving that same compassion to the grandchildren she may never meet.

When people feel ashamed, they blame other people because they feel like if I really look at my shame then I’m going to collapse inside. That’s why self-compassion is desperately important because kids feel shame a lot. They fail at everything at the start.

What we chat about:

• Kim’s story of receiving a devastating diagnosis after completing treatment for breast cancer
• How she’s chosen to spend the years she has left with her family
• The new book she wrote for when her children have kids called “Give Your Kids a Break: Parenting with Compassion for You and Your Children”
• How it’s a process to develop a compassionate inner voice
• Applying grace and truth to every situation in our lives
• Variety of temperaments–some that are harder on themselves than others.
• The difference between self-compassion and self-pity
• Encouraging your children to practice self-compassion and reinforcing it by showing ourselves that same
• Giving our kids the language to identify their failings and separate them from their self- worth
• Moms have a really hard job. It’s ok to acknowledge that.
• The importance of taking care of ourselves as moms
• How to talk to your kids after you’ve been hard on yourself and reframing it with self compassion

Links Mentioned:

Kristi Clover — Simply Joyful Podcast

Give Your Kids a Break : Parenting with Compassion for You and Your Children **

Give Yourself a Break ** 

Compassionate Self-Statements and Self-Soothing Exercises (CD and download)

Kind and Compassionate Words to Soothe Your Soul  (Download)