Synopses & Reviews
If someone told you that you have low self-esteem, would it cause you to bristle? For many, the very concept of self-esteem has negative connotations, because it calls to mind the comparisons we make between ourselves and others. So how do you build real self-confidence?
In The Power of Self-Compassion, you will learn that focusing on self-compassion, rather than self-esteem, is actually the best way to build true, lasting self-confidence. For too long self-esteem has been based on the idea that if you achieve certain goals you are doing okay. This can lead to comparing yourself with others as a way to build confidence. The skills and behavioral techniques outlined in this book are drawn from the groundbreaking compassion-focused therapy (CFT), which holds that being compassionate to yourselfeven when things are not going wellis central to building real self-confidence.
With compassion-focused therapy, you will adopt an accepting attitude about your strengths and weaknesses, and a commitment to change that doesnt depend on being overly critical of yourself or comparing yourself with others. In addition, you will learn how the concept of self-confidence fits in the context of our evolution, biology, and life experiences.
If you are looking to improve your self-confidence, the behavioral steps provided in this book can help you focus on the areas in your life that need improvement, so that you can build a stronger sense of self-worth and competence.
Review
This book is excellent. We are already using it in our self-esteem presentations. It's one of the first and finest self-esteem resource guide books that offers in-depth information in a grounded, useful way.
Jaqueline Miller, Maryland Governor's Task Force on Self-Esteem
As a former legislative aide to John Vasconcellos and the Self-Esteem effort, I found the book to be practical and impactful in its suggested activities. It can enlighten the thinking and enrich a person's experience of their own self-esteem.
Andy Michael, aide to Assemblyman John Vasconcellos, California Task Force on Self-Esteem
Review
“A comprehensive guide to rebuilding a sense of personal power and value.”
—Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal
Review
“McKay and Fanning recognize the complexity of the human tendency toward self-criticism. Their carefully written, cognitively oriented self-help book wisely avoids simplistic solutions, offering instead a systematic approach to self-esteem development.”
—Robert E. Alberti, Ph.D., author of Your Perfect Right
Review
“Positive self-esteem is the centerpiece of a healthy personality… McKay and Fanning’s book offers us a valuable storehouse of tactics and strategies for constructing (or renovating) the foundation of our self-esteem.”
—Phillip G. Zimbardo, Ph.D., author of Shyness
Review
“The Self-Esteem Workbook is both excellent and practical because it is built on a sound scientific base, offers clear recommendations, and comes from and speaks to the heart.”
—Steven E. Hobfoll, Ph.D., Professor & Director, Applied Psychology Center, Kent State University
Review
“Chock-full of effective and practical strategies for raising self-esteem…helpful for anyone who wishes to end negative thinking and learn to see their true value.”
—Matthew McKay, Ph.D., co-author of best-selling Self-Esteem
Review
“It is impossible to read this book without feeling better about oneself and others. It should be required reading for every living soul.”
—Robert L. Bunnell, M.S., PA-C, marketing coordinator, University of Utah Physician Assistant Program; Executive Director, Utah Academy of Physician Assistants
Review
"This book is excellent. We are already using it in our self-esteem presentations. It's one of the first and finest self-esteem resource guide books that offers in-depth information in a grounded, useful way."
—Jaqueline Miller, Maryland Governor's Task Force on Self-Esteem
Review
“Leads participants on a purposeful journey that can result in a future of better mental health and well-being.”
—Sharlene M. Weiss, Ph.D., Founder & Former Director of Psychosocial Oncology, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center; Associate Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Miami School of Medicine
Review
The key to boosting your self-esteem is to change not just how you think, but what you do. Thats the light bulb idea in Hartwell-Walkers eye-opening, empowering new book.”
Marianne Wait, health editor and writer
Review
This book is a winner! After convincing us that
genuine self-esteem must combine
doing good in the world with
thinking good about yourself, it shows in clear, practical ways how to progress toward those goals. Hartwell-Walker's step-by-step approach for improving genuine self-esteem begins with a chapter on building ones initial commitment. This is followed by chapters on improved self-care, courage, positivity, and building rewarding relationships. The book is remarkable in that it advances the reader through a series of self-assessments that build upon one another. Hartwell-Walker is not only an experienced therapist and advice columnist, but also a skilled writer whose language is clear and accessible. She connects her readers with inspiring examples that make excellent reading.”
George Levinger, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Review
"This book will help you stop undermining yourself with debilitating self-criticism and start giving yourself the same kindness, encouragement, and support you'd give to a good friend. With straightforward explanations of concepts and dozens of easy and practical exercises to build self-confidence through self-compassion, this book has the power to change your life."
Kristin Neff, PhD, author of Self-Compassion and associate professor, University of Texas at Austin
Review
"Compassionate Mind approaches are one of the most exciting developments in cognitive behavior therapy. Mary Welford has written an easy-to-read interactive book that distils the core features of developing a different relationship with ones mind and paradoxically building ones self-confidence.”
Professor David Veale, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London
Review
Hugely approachable, sympathetic, and fun. I'd recommend this book to anyone wanting to improve their self-confidence. Choc-full of brilliant clinical metaphors and creative techniques, it will also be invaluable to any therapist wanting a primer on this fascinating area.”
Sam Cartwright-Hatton, clinical psychologist and NIHR fellow, University of Sussex
Review
This is a wonderful book! Welford has beautifully written a remarkable book that takes us to the heart of building self-confidence through developing self-compassion. This book is based on a robust science of mind that leads directly to sensitive and kind-hearted understanding of how we develop self-critical ways of coping with difficult and stressful life experiences. This book enables you to develop an empathic understanding of the origins of shame and also provides practical skills and techniques in developing a compassionate mind as the basis for self-confidence. This book is a highly accessible and practically useful means of developing and overcoming obstacles to self-compassion.”
Professor Andrew Gumley, University of Glasgow, UK
Review
Mary Welford's book is helpful, informative, and interesting. The book makes you feel very much 'looked after' and the inclusion of personal stories, including her own, gives the reader a sense of not being on their own. The approach is hugely relevant to those wishing to find their compassionate self and build their self-confidence.”
Erica Wakeman, reader
Review
“If you pick up a book on building self-esteem, you’d presumably like to feel better about yourself. Yet many of these guides simply cheer us on emptily, or provide us with anecdotes that just don’t fit. In
Unlocking the Secrets of Self-Esteem, psychologist Marie Hartwell-Walker takes a different approach. … Walker doesn’t talk about cognitive techniques. She doesn’t tell us to talk back to our inner voice, and she doesn’t tell us to monitor our thoughts. What she does give us is a clear, effective guide, filled with tangible tools, all well-researched and user-friendly.”
—psychcentral.com
Synopsis
This companion to Self-Esteem, by Matthew Mckay and Patrick Fanning, is designed with an easy-to-use format and presents a course in self-esteem based on new research. Includes checklists, fill-ins, and exercises that show readers how thoughts, emotions, physica health, and behavior impact their self-esteem. Illustrations.
Synopsis
The Self-Esteem Workbook is based on the author's original new research, which has shown that self-esteem can be significantly improved through the use of self-help materials. Now psychologist and health educator Glenn Schiraldi has shaped these tested resources into a comprehensive, self-directed program that guides readers through twenty essential skill-building activities, each focused on developing a crucial component of healthy self-esteem.
Synopsis
This classic is still the most comprehensive guide on the subject and the only book that offers proven techniques for talking back to your self-critical voice. Learn step-by-step techniques to help you:
- Handle your mistakes and respond well to criticism
- Foster compassion for yourself and others
- Set up and achieve goals that will enrich your life
- Use visualization for self-acceptance
Synopsis
Every now and then, we all second-guess ourselves. If you have low self-esteem, or are constantly comparing your successes and failures with those of the people around you, it's time to take a step back and re-evaluate how you treat you.
The Self-Esteem Workbook is based on the author's original new research, which has shown that self-esteem can be significantly improved through the use of self-help materials. Now psychologist and health educator Glenn Schiraldi has shaped these tested resources into a comprehensive, self-directed program that guides readers through twenty essential skill-building activities, each focused on developing a crucial component of healthy self-esteem.
This classic is still the most comprehensive guide on the subject and the only book that offers proven techniques for talking back to your self-critical voice. Learn step-by-step techniques to help you:
- Handle your mistakes and respond well to criticism
- Foster compassion for yourself and others
- Set up and achieve goals that will enrich your life
- Use visualization for self-acceptance
If you are ready to stop being hard on yourself, and start showing compassion and understanding, this workbook can help you get started.
Synopsis
For many, feelings of low self-worth can get in the way of reaching goals and living a happy, meaningful life. In this book, a psychologist offers a groundbreaking new approach to self-esteem based in mindfulness and positive psychology. This book provides practical, step-by-step strategies and skills to help readers develop feelings of competency, rebuild self-confidence, and connect with others through positive actions.
Synopsis
If you dont feel good about yourself, it can be difficult to reach your goals and live a happy, meaningful life. You may have already read countless books on building self-esteem, but after a while you end up right where you startedfeeling like you just arent good enough. So, what are the real secrets to genuine, lasting self-esteem?
Most books on self-esteem tell you that you should feel good about yourself, but they dont show you how to put self-esteem into action. In this book, psychologist Marie Hartwell-Walker offers a groundbreaking new approach to self-esteem based in mindfulness and positive psychology. This book provides practical, step-by-step strategies and skills to help you develop feelings of competency, gain resiliency, rebuild self-confidence, and feel good by engaging in positive actions.
Self-confidence is more than just a way of beingits a way of doing! By taking steps to solve problems and overcome roadblocks by helping yourself (and others!), you will learn to practice self-confidence, rather than just think about it. If youre ready to learn the secrets to genuine self-esteem, and put what youve learned into action, this book will show you how.
Synopsis
The Power of Self-Compassion is based on the groundbreaking new compassion-focused therapy (CFT), developed by foreword writer Paul Gilbert. This book helps readers move beyond traditional ideas about self-esteem, and gives them the tools needed to overcome shame, self-criticism, and self-doubt, so that they can build self-confidence and improve the overall quality of their lives.
About the Author
Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD, has served on the stress management faculties at the Pentagon, the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and the University of Maryland, where he received the Outstanding Teaching Award and other teaching/service awards. His books on stress-related topics have been translated into nine foreign languages. Glenn's writing excellence has been recognized by various scholarly and popular sources, including the Washington Post, American Journal of Health Promotion, the Mind/Body Health Review, and the International Stress and Tension Control Society Newsletter.
Glenn's special passion is presenting skills-based resilience training to high-risk groups, such as the military, police, firefighters, and their families. The goal of such training is to optimize mental fitness and performance, while preventing, and facilitating recovery from, stress-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. His resilience courses at the University of Maryland have been found to improve resilience, optimism, self-esteem, happiness, curiosity, depression, anxiety, and anger.
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