33: Worthiness, Perfectionism & Self Compassion

Welcome! Today we’re discussing Perfectionism, Worthiness, and Self-Compassion. I’m using a personal example from my own experience as the basis for our discussion. Join me!

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The “growth ceiling” can cause anxiety as we exceed our expectations.
• As an example of a “growth ceiling,” I never imagined having a thriving full-time practice where I love going to work and serving my clients, or having a podcast, or interviewing prominent guests.
• Brene’ Brown refers to this as “foreboding joy,” the dread that “good things just can’t happen for me.”
• The solution to these attitudes is to stay in the moment and to realize that no one is more worthy of good things than another.
• Kristin Neff identifies Three Elements of Self-Compassion:
  • Self-Kindness
  • Common Humanity
  • Mindfulness
• Scarcity—What does it mean to operate from this focus?
• My personal example is when I was overjoyed to interview Dr. Dan Seigel for the podcast. Listen in to hear the disastrous story of my recording attempt!
• I normally would have felt like a failure and gone into a shame spiral, but instead, I was able to think, “How lucky I am to have had that beautiful conversation with Dr. Seigel!”
• My Self-Compassion practice has allowed me to have this incredibly different attitude and retain my sense of worthiness.
• I had to contact Dr. Seigel and request to re-record the conversation, which will be a soon upcoming episode.
• Self-Compassion has truly changed my life. “I’m human. Stuff happens. We recover, and it’s OK.”
• Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff
• You may want to become part of my Trauma Therapist Community, where therapists will share collective wisdom and strategies. Sign up at laurareaganlcswc.com.