RESEARCH
into the heart of being human
Over the last decade,
Kelly’s research — in collaboration with her wonderful colleagues at UC Berkeley, the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, and beyond — has explored everything from self-love’s role in addiction and recovery to the impact of mindfulness on childbirth to child development. Behind every study, she is always prodding at the ultimate question: What does this help us know about the very heart of being human?
Self-Love
Self-love is the process of loving ourselves in order to develop a relationship with our own thoughts, emotions, and actions. It is the prioritization, preservation, and care of ourself so that we can ultimately give and connect better with others.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness encompasses a series of practices that focus our attention on our bodies and our breathing. It makes us aware of what’s happening in the now (instead of focusing on the past or future), and it helps us gain awareness of our experience without judging ourselves.
Child Development
Child development includes the emotional, psychological and biological processes that occur until adulthood. It involves how children learn about and come to view themselves through experiences and relationships. The interplay with parents, peers, teachers, schools, neighborhoods, and societal structures are important in playing a positive role in children’s lives.
Top 20 Hashtags in Self-Love Posts
In my findings from 2019 Instagram and Twitter data, these were
the counts of most commonly used hashtags in #selflove posts.
