Anyone trying to achieve an ideal weight knows that it’s more than a “calories in, calories out” equation. Our ability to sleep and manage stress both play a key role, along with our overall metabolism and general health. But what role does compassion play in reaching that appropriate weight?

Cutting-edge research is being done in this area by Dr. Paul Gilbert, Dennis Tirsch, PhD, and Dr. Laura Silberstein-Tirsch at The Center for Compassion Focused Therapy in New York. In their cognitive and behavioral therapy work, they identify these key principles of compassion:

Self-kindness: being caring, kind and loving to oneself
Common humanity: recognizing that setbacks are part of the human condition
Mindfulness: being able to notice our behaviors in a non-judgmental way

Beyond improving our health and life satisfaction, self-compassion is also needed to make healthy habits stick in the long run.

So…the next time you eat that second or third bite of dessert (or even the whole thing!), cut yourself a little slack. Celebrate being human. Then, get back on track by planning your next healthy meal.