Self-compassion isn’t a shortcut around hard feelings; it’s the sturdy bridge that carries us through them. We sat down with clinical child psychologist and mindfulness teacher Dr. Peter Montminy to unpack what self-compassion really is and why it’s the missing ingredient that turns stress into resilience rather than burnout.

We trace the roots of our self-critical habits, from the brain’s negativity bias to the pressure cooker of unfinished to-do lists and social comparison. Then we turn to what actually helps. Dr. Montminy breaks down the three pillars popularized by Dr. Kristin Neff, self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, and shows how each one shifts your inner stance from punitive to supportive. You’ll hear a guided self-compassion break you can use anytime, plus simple daily practices: the friend-to-self exercise, the “oh” pause that interrupts spirals, and short loving-kindness phrases that re-train your attention toward care.

Along the way, we connect the dots between compassion and performance, exploring research that shows how being kinder to yourself preserves motivation, reduces shame, and expands your ability to face challenges. We talk about modeling self-regulation for kids, why “perfectly imperfect” is a powerful reset, and how to apply compassion when you feel like you’re failing at compassion. Expect grounded tools, clear language, and steps you can try the next time your inner critic gets loud.

If this conversation helps you breathe easier, share it with a friend who needs it, subscribe for more resilience tools, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your small actions support big change. What practice will you try today?

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This podcast is brought to you by Jana Marie Foundation and A Mindful Village.

Jana Marie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in State College, Pennsylvania which harnesses the power of creative expression and dialogue to spark conversations build connections, and promote mental health and wellbeing among young people and their communities. Learn more at Jana Marie Foundation.

A Mindful Village is Dr. Peter Montminy's private consulting practice dedicated to improving the mental health of kids and their caregivers. Learn more at A Mindful Village | Holistic Mental Health Care for Kids.

Music created by Ken Baxter.

(c) 2025. Jana Marie Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

This podcast was developed in part under a grant number SM090046 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA, HHS or the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.