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“Because [self-esteem] offers indiscriminate affirmation unconnected to genuine accomplishment, self-esteem can foster narcissism, diminish empathy, and stoke aggression. It can also promote bias toward one's own group and prejudice toward other groups. Because self-esteem is comparative, to assess myself favorably, I often must denigrate others. The most powerful and promising alternative [to self-esteem] is called "self-compassion". Self-compassion encourages us to take the middle road in handling negative emotions - not suppressing them, but not exaggerating or over identifying with them either. Self-compassion delivers the benefits of self-esteem without its drawbacks.” — Daniel H. Pink
Because [self-esteem] offers indiscriminate affirmation unconnected to genuine accomplishment, self-esteem can foster narcissism, diminish empathy, and stoke aggression. It can also promote bias toward one's own group and prejudice toward other groups. Because self-esteem is comparative, to assess myself favorably, I often must denigrate others.
The most powerful and promising alternative [to self-esteem] is called "self-compassion". Self-compassion encourages us to take the middle road in handling negative emotions - not suppressing them, but not exaggerating or over identifying with them either. Self-compassion delivers the benefits of self-esteem without its drawbacks.