I wish the woman in this photo knew she was doing a phenomenal job.

My grandmother-in-law turned 100 (!!) this year and our family traveled to Virginia to celebrate her. This photo is from the first time we flew there with our daughter.

When I look at it now, I feel endless self-compassion for the new mama I see. I was sleep-deprived, had never flown with my baby, and was just two months into navigating my mother’s terminal illness - traveling back and forth to CT to care for her and tending to the daily realities of motherhood in places I never imagined I’d be.

It’s easy to look back and give ourselves grace… but what if we could offer that same grace in the moment?

Back then, negative self-talk was second nature - constant comparisons to other parents, judgment about how I was doing. Over time, I began learning and practicing self-compassion, and it changed my life. Now, I get to share it with others.

It might sound a little “woo-woo,” but as self-compassion expert Dr. Kristin Neff shares, thousands of studies around the world have shown that self-compassion:
✅ Reduces anxiety and depression
✅ Increases motivation and accountability
✅ Builds inner strength and emotional balance
✅ Helps us care for others without burning out

Practical tools by Dr. Kristin Neff can be found here: Self-Compassion Practices

So… how do you talk to yourself when you’re going through something hard?

If you don't love the answer, consider this your invitation to explore what life feels like when you have your own back.

It can be one of the most powerful levers you can pull to impact your wellbeing at work and out in the world.