Self-Compassion When Coping With Venture Obstacles: Loving-Kindness Meditation and Entrepreneurial Fear of Failure
Yuval Engel, Stephany Noordijk, Afra Spoelder, Marco van Gelderen
Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice December 16, 2019 DOI: 10.1177/1042258719890991 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Entrepreneurs |
| Intervention | Loving-Kindness Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Kindness Compassion Fear of failure Entrepreneurship Mindfulness meditation Psychological resilience Psychotherapist Theology |
| Citations | 109 |
| Key findings | Loving-Kindness Meditation increased self-compassion, which was associated with lower fear reactivity in entrepreneurs facing a threatening venture obstacle. |
Abstract
Entrepreneurial fear of failure is a ubiquitous yet aversive experience with critical implications for entrepreneurial action and well-being. To understand how entrepreneurs can effectively cope with fear-inducing obstacles, we hypothesize and experimentally test the extent to which self-compassion, cultivated through Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), counteracts entrepreneurs’ fear of failure when facing a threatening venture obstacle. Compared to an active control group, entrepreneurs exposed to a brief guided LKM showed higher self-compassion, which, in turn, was associated with lower fear reactivity. We offer novel contributions to entrepreneurship theory and practice by highlighting the role of meditation and self-compassion in building entrepreneurial resilience.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Meditasi Cinta Kasih untuk Mengembangkan Kepedulian dan Percaya Diri Jurnal Maitreyawira. November 9, 2020
- Mind, Body, and Soul: A Spiritual Perspective on the Entrepreneurial Imagination Organization Theory April 18, 2026
- Developing a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Entrepreneurial Stress Reduction Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies July 26, 2024
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditations in the workplace: A meta-analysis and future prospects. Stress and Health February 1, 2024
- MEMAHAMI KONSEP MEDITASI DALAM KAJIAN SUTTA-SUTTA DALAM SUTTAPIṬAKA PATISAMBHIDA : Jurnal Pemikiran Buddha dan Filsafat Agama December 28, 2023
and 3 more in the library
Cites 19
- Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology October 27, 2008
- Contemplating Mindfulness at Work Journal of Management November 19, 2015
- Neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 28, 2007
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
- Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise PLoS One March 25, 2008
and 14 more in the library