Find a photo of you that you really like. Look closely at the picture then explain why it’s a favorite.
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[Podcast #228] Self-Compassion with Dr. Diana Hill
We often practice compassion for others, but hesitate when it comes to compassion for ourselves.
Friend of the podcast Dr. Diana Hill joins us today to talk about her newest book, The Self-Compassion Daily Journal, and give us some practical tips for practicing self-compassion.
We talk about:
- the science of stress in the body,
- being a connected part of nature,
- wearing jeans that fit, and much more!
This conversation is packed with nuggets of wisdom and insight.
Show Notes
What Is Self-Compassion
According to Dr. Hill, there are three components of self-compassion: Mindfulness, kindness, and common humanity. When we apply these components to how we talk to ourselves, we become more grounded and focused on what matters to us. Without self-compassion, when we face challenges we tend to either shut down or flood ourselves with stress hormones.
Self-Compassion Practices
Self-compassion is a practice. It requires ongoing attention and development. Dr. Hill gives specific practices that can help you build self-compassion. The practices involve touch, posture, breathing, mantras, drawing, and grounding techniques. No one technique works for everybody, so it’s important to be aware of what works for your specific body and mind.
Self-Compassion for the Body
The physical body is integral to self-compassion. As women, we are socialized to be very self-critical about our bodies. As busy adults, we ignore basic physical signals telling us what our body needs. So we end up in tight jeans, holding our pee for way too long. Dr. Hill explains that respecting the rhythms of your body, understanding that you are part of the natural world, is fundamental to practicing self-compassion.
In the words of Dr. Hill, “Compassion isn’t just soft and squishy kindness. It’s also courageous. It’s standing up for yourself. It’s self-respect. It’s being strong. It’s encouraging. So you can hold your spine and your back a strong and stable source for yourself.” May we all practice that.
Resources
- Learn more on Diana’s website: https://drdianahill.com/
- Check out Diane’s books: https://drdianahill.com/books/
- Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
- Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684
- Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention!
- Good news: There are enough weeks left to do a writing project with your kids that will leave you feeling confident and accomplished this school year. Sign up for a Brave Writer online writing class. Our classes start every Monday, and each one only lasts three to six weeks. Sign up today!
Connect with Julie
- Website: bravewriter.com
- Instagram: @juliebravewriter
- Threads: @juliebravewriter
- Twitter: @bravewriter
- Facebook: facebook.com/bravewriter
Connect with Melissa
- Website: melissawiley.com
- Substack: melissawiley.substack.com
- Instagram: @melissawileybooks
- Twitter: @melissawiley
Produced by NOVA Media
Try It: Powerful Descriptions
That’s amazing!
Imagine you’ve just seen an astonishing sight like a dolphin flying through the air.
- How would your body react? Try it!
- How would you express that physical reaction in words?
Powerful Descriptions
Today’s Try It prompt is from Week Four of Just Beyond the Very, Very Far North Dart. Duane the polar bear and his friends are astonished at the actions of their friend Handsome!
Eyes widened as mouths and beaks fell open all at the same time.
(Oh, my! I could not believe what Handsome did either! I gasped!)
Choose another emotion to experiment with—keep it light and get bodies moving.
- Ask: How does your body react if something makes you angry or delighted or scared?
- Act out the feeling, noticing what your body does.
- Find words that capture that physical response. (Write them on a whiteboard—then play with them.)
The Complete List of Try It Activities
Tea with Julie: Writing Voice
“Tea with Julie” is a weekly emailed missive that enhances your life as an educator, parent, and awesome adult. From time to time, we’ll share some of our past topics here on the blog.
In this Tea with Julie series (linked below), I talk about writing voice. Writing voice is the sound and feel of the writing—the way you recognize one author over another, or the way one sort of writing connects with you while another type doesn’t. Authors with strong writing voices are those who stand out in a crowd of writers, those you return to because you want to hear what they have to say.
Honestly, your kids are naturals. If you support their self-expression by capturing it for them (jotting down their hot takes, their little narratives, their jokes), they come to trust their writing voices.
It’s when you ask them to sound like someone else—Aesop, some adult writer, the format prescribed in the writing assignment—that we lose the heart of their message and their natural, rich vocabulary.
I hope you enjoy your exploration of the magic of “voice.” In our world of echoes, we need powerful voices. You’re raising them!
Writing Voice
- Value your child’s voice
- They speak in prose and paragraphs
- Fill the “house” with a lively voice!
- Just how important are spelling and punctuation anyway?
Glad you’re here! This is your time for tea and a break from the breakneck pace of your important life.
Some Tea with Julie messages have been
shared on the Brave Writer Podcast!
Friday Freewrite: Letter “T” Words
Write a story using as many of these “T” words as you can.
- Table
- Tiptoe
- Total
- Toast
- Terrific
- Timely
- Toss
- Trumpet
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