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Why Successful People Choose Self-Compassion Over Self-Esteem
Self-compassion isn’t about letting yourself off the hook. It’s about having a growth mindset that gives you authentic confidence.
For the past six years, I’ve been obsessed with the topic of confidence — how to get it, how to raise it, and how to keep it. My preoccupation grew out of fierce battles with insecurity while growing up, and out of learning to navigate life as a highly sensitive person who feels everything more intensely.
My obsession really took hold when I noticed a strikingly similar pattern among my coaching clients. Smart and highly accomplished people, they also had thoughts like:
“I’m falling behind in my career.”
“No matter how much I do, it’s never enough.”
“I want to start a business, but I fear looking foolish.”
Anyone who has tried to embark on a professional or personal goal is familiar with this voice of the inner critic — the one that says things like “you’re not good enough,” “this is a stupid idea,” or “nothing will ever work out.”