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Self-compassion involves relating to oneself with care and support when we suffer. Neff (2003b) defines self-compassion as consisting of three central components: self-kindness versus selfjudgment, common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus overidentification. These elements combine and mutually interact to create a self-compassionate frame of mind when encountering personal mistakes, perceived inadequacies, or various experiences of life difficulty. Self-kindness entails being loving, gentle, and understanding toward oneself and involves actively soothing and comforting oneself in times of struggle. This response stands in contrast to a self-critical approach in which one judges or blames oneself for not being good enough or for not coping well enough with life challenges. Selfcompassion involves framing one's experiences of imperfection in light of the shared human experience, accepting that all people struggle in some form or another. Rather than seeing oneself as a separate, unworthy individual, self-compassion involves recognizing that one's experience of imperfection is connected to the experience of imperfection shared by all humanity. Instead of feeling cut off and isolated from others in times of loss or failure, self-compassion fosters a deep sense of belonging. Finally, self-compassion entails a balanced, mindful response to distress that neither stifles and avoids nor amplifies and ruminates on uncomfortable emotions. Rather than running away with the narrative or storyline of one's problems and shortcomings, selfcompassion involves maintaining equanimity in the face of unpleasant experiences, opening up to life as it is in the present moment. Compassion can be extended toward oneself when suffering occurs through no fault of one's ownwhen the external circumstances of life are simply painful or hard to withstand. Self-compassion is equally relevant, however, when suffering stems from one's own mistakes, failures, or personal limitations.

ObjectiveTwo studies examined the efficacy of the Self‐Compassion for Healthcare Communities (SCHC) program for enhancing wellbeing and reducing burnout among healthcare professionals.MethodStudy 1 (N = 58) had a quasi‐experimental design and compared wellbeing outcomes for the SCHC group compared to a waitlist control group. Study 2 (N = 23) did not include a control group and examined the effect of SCHC on burnout.ResultsStudy 1 found that SCHC significantly increased self‐compassion and wellbeing. All gains were maintained for three months. Study 2 found that in addition to enhancing wellbeing, SCHC significantly reduced secondary traumatic stress and burnout. Changes in self‐compassion explained gains in other outcomes, and initial levels of self‐compassion moderated outcomes so that those initially low in self‐compassion benefitted more.ConclusionsFindings suggest that the SCHC program may be an effective way to increase self‐compassion, enhance wellbeing, and reduce burnout for healthcare professionals.