Psychologist Christopher Germer was introduced to the concept of radical self-compassion in the early 2000s while searching for solutions to his public speaking anxiety, which led him to explore Sri Lankan mindfulness meditation. Germer turned his studies of self-compassion into a popular training program and book, “The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion.” The 2009 book compares practicing emotional self-compassion to, say, bandaging a cut finger. This quote from the book summates Germer’s entire thesis: Being patient, considerate, and gentle toward oneself not only has the ability to turn a bad day into a good one, but it also holds the power to completely transform your life and your relationship to yourself and the world. In Germer’s own words: “Freeing yourself from the trap of destructive thoughts and emotions … can boost your self-esteem from the inside out. Self-compassion is the foundation of compassion for others.”