E71 - Rooted & Unwavering - July 31 - Hylke Faber & Massimo Backus

<p></p><p><strong>Self-criticism or Self-Compassion? You Choose</strong></p><p> </p><p>“I saw two roads in front of me. One was self-criticism and blame for what just happened and the other was about surrender and gratitude.” Massimo Backus, leadership coach and speaker and author of Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism, reflects on a severe accident he had in October 2025. It brought him face to face with a foundational question: what is really important to me? He realized that achievement had been in the driver’s seat and self-criticism had been a relentless  companion on this path. He was never enough. Self-kindness helped him put achievement in the backseat and put his true priorities, health and family, in the front. Paradoxically rebalancing his priorities helps Massimo to be of greater value to his clients. “To give my all, I need to have my all to give. This requires self-care and time.” He now puts time to connect with himself, his health and his family on his calendar. And he practices being in the now, surrendering what he can’t control and being grateful for all that is in this moment. A place to start on this journey? “Notice what is here without judgment. Be curious about what is.”</p><p></p>