Self-esteem, compassion and self-compassion: from individualism to connectedness

Abstract

"Editor’s note: This article is a revised version of a lecture given at the Winter Residential Training Program of the Pacific Gestalt Institute in March 2012, Santa Barbara, CA. Abstract: In recent years, Western science and psychotherapy research have begun to discover what has been a long tradition in Buddhism: on the one hand, the striving for high self- esteem supports individualist and narcissistic tendencies and brings about a number of risks. On the other hand, it is increasingly recognised that compassionate acts and expressions enhance the wellbeing of others as well as that of the compassionate person. Moreover, it has been shown that the compassion one feels for oneself has positive emotional effects and boosts a person’s resilience. Key words: compassion, connectedness, emotional regulation, individualism, resilience, self- compassion, self-esteem."