Be Kind to Yourself for Your Heart

Self-compassion may be good for your ticker as well as your psyche, says new research. Women who practiced mindfulness and scored higher on the self-compassion scale had healthier arteries and less plaque buildup than those who felt inadequate; this was true even after controlling for factors like smoking and exercise status, found the University of Pittsburgh study. Self-compassion and mindfulness help us cope with stress, which benefits our physical health too. Another reason to treat yourself as you would your BFF.