Balanced Working Moms Podcast - ADHD, Productivity, and Time Management

Ep #184: Self-Esteem vs. Self-Compassion: What ADHD Moms Really Need

Rina Meushaw - ADHD Coach for Working Moms Season 1 Episode 184

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0:00 | 31:53

Do you ever beat yourself up when things go wrong? Maybe you’re late, your kids are melting down, your house is a mess, or you feel like you should be handling everything better.

For many women with ADHD, negative self-talk can become a constant background noise. But what if the answer isn’t trying to build higher self-esteem? What if it’s learning self-compassion?

In this episode, we’re talking about the difference between self-esteem and self-compassion, and why self-compassion can be a much healthier and more sustainable way to feel good about yourself.

You’ll learn Kristin Neff’s three-part self-compassion break:

  • 🧠 Mindfulness: Notice when you’re struggling and name what you’re feeling.
  • 🤝 Common humanity: Remember that difficult moments are part of being human, and you’re not the only one struggling.
  • 💛 Self-kindness: Talk to yourself the way a good friend would talk to you instead of beating yourself up.

We’ll talk about why self-esteem can leave us constantly evaluating ourselves based on our accomplishments, appearance, relationships, work, or what other people think, and why self-compassion gives us something we can actually control: how we treat ourselves.

If you’re an ADHD mom who struggles with self-criticism, perfectionism, mom guilt, or feeling like you’re never doing enough, this episode will give you a completely different way to think about how you talk to yourself.

Ready to stop scrambling? Book your complimentary Chaos to Calm session.

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