Achieving Self-Compassion: Giving Yourself the Gifts of Happiness and Inner Peace

I had been meaning to read this book for two months so when I finally had a chance to start reading it one morning I could not put it down until finishing it at midnight. I thought it was an easy and excellent read that encompassed many parts of my life that I have been working on. Although I finished it quickly, I don't think this book is meant to rush through with all the tools and techniques the author offered. It's definitely something I plan to review multiple times and work on what is needed when needed. The author does an excellent job at covering many of the same issues we all face when we have a lack of compassion for ourself. My favorite is how he talks about his personal experiences overcoming life obstacles or gives examples to clarify. The book is a treasure full of gems. Thank you!

Achieving Self-Compassion: Giving Yourself the Gifts of Happiness and Inner Peace is a healing tool. Nate’s work is a generous gift to those looking to love and understand themselves. The birthplace of healing is certainly self-compassion and this topic is explored in this book like no other.This work is a collection of timeless wisdom meant to speak to the heart and soul of us all.It was a joy to have had a conversation with Nate Terrell during a podcast interview! His presence reflected his commitment and mission to touch lives and his compassion was shown and felt long after that interview.

This book is an excellent guide to caring for yourself. Nate starts with reasons it is okay to care for yourself as well as other people. He addresses the religious emphasis on only caring for others and gives reason that you can care for other people more efficiently and feel happier doing it when you care for yourself. As a Christian I understand that the second commandment is "Love others as yourself" not "better than, or "instead of" yourself.Most of the book consists of Nate's novel ideas on how to have self compassion and care for yourself. He takes many of the traditional self help and spiritual practices and adds his own unique ides. Nate is a counselor and he describes the techniques he uses with his own counseling clients. He includes visualization techniques to feel peaceful, handle criticism, and get rid of unwanted thoughts. Additionally he teaches you how to enjoy your alone time. Whether you are driving or eating alone you can enjoy it.Nate uses unique metaphors to describe his techniques, including "Your inner barometer", "Go to your balcony", and "Slam a steel door". Getthis book to learn what all of this means and learn how to care for yourself as you never have before.

In his introduction Nate Terrell writes “Our ability to meet the needs of others is largely contingent on our ability to treat ourselves with compassion. Our subsequent sense of happiness, inner peace and wholeness frees us to give to other people without depleting ourselves.” This is THE key to a happy and fulfilled life. So often we grow up or raise our children to give to others first believing that is right and then cannot understand why they suffer “donor fatigue,” burn out or worse. Nate gave me a copy of the book for review purposes and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it.By denying ourselves self-care we drain our tank. So it should not be a surprise that burnout happens and we suffer a variety of symptoms: dissatisfaction with our life, stress, depression, sadness, anger, emotional avoidance, misery, relationship issues, insecurity, loss of self-esteem and self-confidence and stagnation in our personal development.Looking after ourselves is not selfish. It is vital to our wellbeing. How can we care for others if we do not care for ourselves? Giving to others, the needy, does not replenish us, it drains us. The emphasis we are encouraged to reflect is the reverse of what we actually need. But why, what does self-compassion do for us? Why do we need it? Self-compassion validates who we are, giving us positive energy for life (not just mere existence); it is an emotional boost that enables us to weather life’s storms and be resilient (bouncing forwards after a challenge or crisis). Self-compassion empowers us to change ourselves, to grow and personally develop as individuals. It also enables us to let go of what we cannot change, to accept it and release it. Now who doesn’t want this or need this in their life?In “Achieving Self Compassion” Nate details in short chapters how we can achieve self-compassion for ourselves. How we can continually top up our tank to have enough to share. He does not use complicated, difficult or academic language; he uses the language we use daily. You do not always need help to achieve self-compassion. The beauty of this book is #changeonething and do it for yourself! Across ten chapters the author gives us different routes to achieving self-compassion, different routes to re-filling our tanks. We can do this for ourselves. It is not selfish, it is imminently sensible.Whilst reading the book (most of it twice) I found some pointers resonated more loudly than others. The ones that resonate are the ones I need to work on. For example I have developed a pretty good sense of self over the years, what I am good at or not, so tuning into my authentic self and listening to the still small voice within is fairly easy for me (Chapter 8). On the other hand I do have to work on accepting/believing I have intrinsic worth and am inherently worthy; so chapter 3 is one I shall re-read. It reminds me of other work I have done which I may benefit by re-revisiting using the recommended strategies at the end of that chapter.An addition I think would be useful is an associated work book associated that connects to the “Try These Strategies for Size” at the end of each chapter. Yes, Nate is really practical with his suggestions here. Okay, create your own – grab a note book, write down the strategies, think about and record what you should do and can change to be more self-compassionate. I still think a guided workbook would be useful, it creates accountability and a permanent record of our growth, our change, our development in self—compassion; a record we can refer back to (and is less likely to be tossed out than a notebook). It will be a reminder of the self- development we have done and of what we have achieved. Nate – there’s another book here!

Loved the detailed strategies and personal insights. I recommend this book for personal and professiinal libaries ... And for high schools and colleges.

It was a class requirement to read this in Nate’s Communication Class at Temple, and I found it quite hard to put this book down once I started. Great 12 step strategy to get over life’s hurdles, and it makes a great contemporary companion to Dale Carnegie’s works. Read it in one sitting, and it was well worth the read.

This book is well-written and enjoyable to read. Nate includes personal stories from his own life and the lives of his clients. He covers many topics, including self-care, gratitude, anger management, living in the present, positive self-talk, how to be your own best friend, and much more.

Excellent Book Professor! I really enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot from it. Your stories are incredible and inspiring. I’m more happy in my life then ever before!

This book has simple, helpful lessons and ideas to use in our self-care and self-compassion. It's a great resource furthering my practice having read Compassion Focused Therapy by Paul Gilbert. I love in this book, however, the author's personal stories including those of his children who sound wonderful and very real. For Christians the author Martin Laird and his book are helpful with being in the present moment. I only add that because for me, self-compassion has been easier with God's help and love.