Being nice to yourself makes it easier to fight depression

Editor: Philip Ragner | Tactical Investor

We cover multiple arrays of topics for one simple reason. The world is interconnected, and it is not only financial factors that drive the markets. Geopolitics is another major driving force behind the markets. Crowd Psychology dictates that if you focus on the tree, you will forget that the tree is part of a forest and in doing so you will miss the bigger picture. For example, George Soros is behind the surge in fake stories, the massive Anti-Trump riots and the funding of plethora of revolutions that seek to change the existing regime. Having the ability to cross analyse multiple factors with an open mind provides you with a much clearer picture of what to expect from the financial markets. On that note, we think you might find the following story of interest:

No one can claim to have mastered the markets fully and anyone that does lay claim to such a title should be avoided like the plague. For example, after QE all the rules changed and many time-tested indicators simply ceased to work because the operating environment had changed forever. The markets were suddenly hit with a force that they had never been hit with before. A fed that was determined to destroy any shred of free market forces left in the market. This surprised everyone, and it even caught us off guard initially. Many so-called experts refuse to accept that they made a mistake or could be wrong. Bull Markets Vs Bear Markets & Arrogance

The trait of perfectionism is one that has been met with both admiration and concern. The quality of striving for perfect results, whether conditioned or inborn, may seem like nothing more than a good work ethic. When taken to an extreme, however, it can trigger a harmful burnout. Or worse.

So what protective shield can one use against depression that stems from perfectionism? Self-compassion, says a newly published study named “The Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Self-Compassion” in the journal PLoS ONE.

The participants comprised of a small group of Australians – 515 adults, who were between the ages of 18 to 72 and 541 adolescents, studying in grades 7 to 10. The aim of the study, conducted through anonymous questionnaires, was to look into “whether self-compassion moderated, or weakened, the relationship between high perfectionism and high depression symptoms.”

Results revealed self-compassion was indeed a moderator, which either reduced the frequency of perfectionist thoughts or altered the perception towards them altogether. The research also cited a 2003 study by University of Texas professor Kristin D. Neff, which proposed three basic components of self-compassion: self-kindness (as opposed to self-criticism), common humanity (as opposed to separating and isolating oneself), and mindfulness (as opposed to over-identifying with one’s painful experiences). Neff, who is renowned for creating the self-compassion scales, described it as “relating to oneself with care and support when we suffer.” Read more

8 Ways to Be Kind to Yourself

Many of us struggle to treat ourselves with kindness. For some reason, we’re often nicer to others than we are to ourselves.

Good self-care isn’t that different from effective parenting. As parents we want to balance clear expectations for our kids with an understanding that they’re human and imperfect.

In the same way, looking out for ourselves means holding ourselves to standards that aren’t too loose or too tight. This approach allows us to experience a balance of pleasure and mastery, the two types of reward that make life feel enjoyable and worthwhile.

There are countless ways to support the well-being of the person whose body you inhabit. In my new book, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple, I devote a chapter to eight research-proven practices of self-kindness. I’ve summarized these approaches below, including examples for how to enact them using the “Think Act Be” approach. As I discussed in my very first post, “Think Act Be” refers to the three streams of therapy that converged to form mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy. Read more

12 Surprisingly Powerful Health Benefits of Being Nicer to Yourself

We’re all pretty hard on ourselves, criticizing everything from our thighs to our parking job to our off-hand comments at work. And it’s not without consequences. “Harsh self-criticism activates the sympathetic nervous system—fight or flight—and elevates stress hormones such as cortisol in our bloodstream,” says Emma Seppala, PhD, science director the Stanford University Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, and author of The Happiness Track.

Too much cortisol can lead to problems ranging from weight gain to cardiovascular trouble. Enter self-compassion, which means treating yourself the way you’d treat a friend who’s going through a hard time—with support and understanding, instead of criticism. Studies have shown that using self-compassion techniques can reverse the negative trend of criticism and cortisol. “When you practice self-compassion, you reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which takes away the state of stress,” says Deborah Serani, PsyD, award-winning author of Living with Depression and a psychology professor at Adelphi University.

“The more you stay with positive thoughts, the more dopamine surges, which floods your body with feel-good hormones.” How can you practice self-compassion? “Instead of saying things like, ‘How could I have done this? I’m such an idiot!’ you might say, ‘I had a moment of absent-mindedness and that’s okay—it could have happened to anyone,’” Dr. Seppala says. Learn 15 five-second strategies for shutting down stress in the moment. Read more

Fighting Depression Easier If You Are Nicer To Yourself

8 Ways to Be Kind to Yourself

12 Surprisingly Powerful Health Benefits of Being Nicer to Yourself

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