4.3.3. Self-Compassion
painful emotions, adversity
While self-compassion scores did not show improvement at the endpoint, there were significant increases at one-month, three-month, and six-month follow-ups when compared to baseline. The lack of significant improvement immediately following the intervention but improved scores in follow-up timepoints might be explained by the time needed to put new skills into practice and an opportunity to observe a difference in how one responds to oneself in times of struggle.Practicing self-compassion means responding to oneself with kindness instead of harsh judgment, recognizing that suffering and imperfection are a part of being human, and approaching painful emotions with a balanced mindset [Studies have shown that low self-compassion levels can be considered a vulnerability factor in the development of burnout, and mindfulness and self-compassion can be protective among healthcare workers [Importantly, self-compassion is a source of resilience and strength when facing adversity [