A renowned psychologist shares the science of self-compassion and offers powerful practices for greater calm, clarity, and joy.

Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to change? It is because you're probably missing one key ingredient: self-compassion. In Good Morning, I Love You, Dr. Shauna Shapiro, one of the leading scientists studying the effects of mindfulness and self-compassion, brings alive the brain science-and explains why we get stuck in negativity and judgments that don't serve us.

Usually, we try to make changes in our lives by pushing ourselves, judging ourselves, and then beating ourselves up when we don't succeed. But science shows this doesn't work-and that self-judgment and shame actually shut down the learning centers of the brain. As Dr. Shapiro reveals, the simple yet profound switch to self-kindness allows you to rewire your brain for greater positivity, creativity, and joy. 

Though our brain's "negativity bias" evolved as a survival trait, in our modern world we need to re-train ourselves towards positivity in order to have a full experience of life. "It's never too late to start, no matter where you are in your life," says Dr. Shapiro. In lively, short chapters laced with science, wisdom, and story, she provides a powerful roadmap to guide you-including her signature "Good morning, I love you" practice for starting each day. "The research is clear," she says; "You can change your brain's circuitry and root yourself in feelings of deep calm, clarity, and joy-for good."