Dr. Susan Pollak shares mindfulness strategies for overcoming shame and self-criticism in new essay. In “The Moldy Fridge of Shame” published on Happier Meditation’s blog, clinical psychologist Pollak recounts how discovering moldy food triggered harsh self-criticism and childhood shame, then describes applying her meditation class homework to interrupt the negative cycle. She offers three practical approaches—self-compassion, exploring the language of self-criticism, and cognitive reframing—encouraging readers to embrace imperfection as part of common humanity and to treat harsh inner voices as “beautiful monsters” worth befriending rather than fighting.
