A new brain imaging study shows that self-compassion training alters neural responses to chronic pain.
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MSC and Being with Ageing Parents
Compassion is relational. And perhaps the most complicated of these relations at times are within our family. Families are the very foundation of this human experience, and so many threads of the tapestry of our life may well be family relations. Bearing the complexity of this in mind, I humbly offer my story of the caring relation-shipping that I had with the four elders in my life: my parents and my husband’s parents. And if you are in the time of your life where you are caring for an elderly parent/s, my wish for you is to include yourself in your caring. Know that the caring goes on long after they die and that loving relation-shipping is eternal.
Building Inner Strength for Hard Times: Self-Compassion for Young Adults
In the new Embracing Your Life course, young adults learn ways of meeting emotional challenges unique to this age group. Adapted from the empirically supported Mindful Self-Compassion program, Embracing Your Life offers tools to become more resilient to anger, sadness, anxiety, and more. Needed now more than ever.
New Research Demonstrates Benefits of Self-Compassion on Physical Health
According to recent research that synthesized findings from 94 studies and 29,588 individuals, our physical wellness can be supported by an inner resource that is already available within us and can be accessed at a moment’s notice: self-compassion.
Healing into Compassionate Parenting
Show of Hands: Who is a Stellar Parent during this time of a global pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice, and increasingly toxic and violent political fissure…
How does self-compassion protect depressed adolescents? Quieting the self may be the key.
Excessive focus on one’s own negative aspects can have harmful effects, such as depression. It is especially so for adolescents, because they are more vulnerable to peers’ negative appraisals. We…
The Near and Far Enemies of Fierce Compassion
Practitioners of compassion inevitably ask, “What specific actions should I take?” to address injustice in their lives. Cultivating the qualities of mindfulness, common humanity and kindness is a good foundation for compassionate action, and when we add a measure of wisdom, we can surely change the world for the better.
Self-Compassion and Waking Up to Racial Injustice
By participating in and benefitting from an unjust system, we perpetuate racism. We need to have self-compassion to see our role in racism clearly, holding this uncomfortable truth with love and acceptance, so we can wake up and commit to do things differently.
Building a Brave Space in MSC
I was touched today upon reading this beautiful poem by Micky ScottBey Jones, and it inspired me to reflect on how we might be sure our MSC teaching spaces are…
The Surprising Benefits of an Online Meditation Retreat
Online retreats can be a loving refuge amidst chaos in the time of global pandemic. Beth Mulligan shares that by gently challenging our expectations for what a retreat “should” look like, we open ourselves to seeing that one need not travel to “get away from it all.” Indeed, the potential for connection, insight, and ease are right here at home.
Loving Others Without Losing Ourselves as MSC Teachers
As we support our participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, our key guiding principle as teachers is empowerment. Our role is to help participants restore a kind of “inner authority.” We…
Chris Germer: Past, Present and Future: A Biographical Interview
“I think we’re at the beginning of a great wave of compassion.” – Chris Germer
Self-Compassion and COVID-19
What kind of world do we want to create as we navigate through global challenges like Covid-19? Will our hearts expand or contract as they bump into each new challenge? A global commitment to living compassionately can make all the difference and self-compassion seems like an excellent way to start.
Self-Love is an Antidote to Self-Pity
Self-Love is an Antidote to Self-Pity: An Interview with Kristin Neff and Chris Germer about Self-Compassion HAPPINEZ International magazine, Issue 18, December 2019 [pdfjs-viewer url=”https://center4msc-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com//wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Happinez-International-Neff-Germer.pdf” viewer_width=100% viewer_height=1360px fullscreen=true download=true print=true]…
Chapter 9: Engaging in Inquiry
Teachers can focus on three components of inquiry, which we refer to in MSC as the “three R’s,” as a guide for how to engage in inquiry. Radical acceptance is the overall attitude of the inquiry process; resonance is the primary mode of engagement; and resource-building is the desired outcome of inquiry.
Rx when Parenting a Child with a Chronic Condition
Parenting a child with an illness or disability is very common yet remains a silent plight for many. Close to 20% of parents have a child with a chronic condition or disability, which is defined as any condition that has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months.
The Promise of Self-Compassion for Attorneys
Many lawyers may think that self-compassion is too touchy feely and that if they indulge in such feelings, they will lose their edge. While skepticism is understandable, research findings debunk some of the common misconception about the construct.
Noticing what you need and then asking for it: Self-compassion 101
Like so many other women, my fierce self-compassion is still very much a work in progress. But I’m getting better at the self-awareness part. And so, for today, I practice self compassion by congratulating myself on how far I have come – and I refuse to beat myself up over how far I have yet to go.
Embracing Diversity and Social Justice Work in Teaching MSC: Introduction to the Series
An introduction to a series on DEI issues that we hope to explore and share with you in the year ahead. Our deepening intimacy through conversation provided us with fertile ground to unpack how the forces of oppression and privilege have impacted us in unique and shared ways. Specifically we hope to explore (a) our experiences with privilege and oppression, (b) an awareness of the ways we benefit from our privilege and have harmed others and/or been harmed by it, (c) awareness and reflection of oppression and the ways it impacts us and those around us, and (d) practices to assist us in our journey as we explore these challenging issues.
Chapter 8: Facilitating Group Process
Another excerpt from, “Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals”, this time about working with groups and specifically Trauma survivors. ““Safety first” is a general rule of MSC training and it applies particularly when working with trauma survivors. Like everyone else, trauma survivors like to challenge themselves, but they also need special instruction in how to titrate the intensity of their experience and return to safety.”
2021 MSC Regional Teacher Festival Announced
We are excited to announce our first Regional MSC Teacher Festival is currently planned for July 15-18, 2021 in the Niagara Falls region of North America, on the Canadian-US Border.
An ambitious vision for compassionate children’s television is steadily taking root with “Sophie and Friends”
Inspired by her experience learning self-compassion, MSC graduate Sophie Kirby wondered, “What if we taught kids compassion from the get-go? Imagine what their world could become.” Her ambitious vision for remarkable children’s TV is now ending its first season and going strong.
Healing in Community: Project Huruma
Project Huruma has emerged with a vision to support caregivers and survivors of trauma around the world with mindfulness and self-compassion skills, starting with the Mt. Elgon community in Western Kenya. Here, we offer you the first in a series of articles on the project’s progress.
Coping During Australia’s Bushfire Crisis: MSC Teachers Share Their Stories
“… A knowing arises in me that I need an anchor, a way to find balance for my nervous system. This anchor is what gives me some stability to hold onto. Without that I become a mess and am unable to be of service to myself or anyone else.”
Program Adaptation Incubator Extends the Reach of MSC Program
The Program Adaptation Incubator (PAI) project was formed to support that vision of extending the reach and influence of self-compassion practice to more people, populations and settings.
Updated 2020 Teacher Guide Now Available!
The updated Teacher Guide for 2020 is now available for purchase. This version more seamlessly incorporates yang self-compassion, speaks more clearly to diversity and inclusion, and includes even more safety enhancements.
Chapter 7: Being A Compassionate Teacher (Excerpt)
Another installment of our series of excerpts from “Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals” by Chris Germer and Kristin Neff. Translations of the Professional Guide are forthcoming throughout 2020 and 2021. Here is the chapter on embodying compassion.
Mindfulness Vs. Compassion
Can we work together as mindfulness- and compassion-based teachers to offer intentional cultivation of both these qualities rather than fearing competition between programs?
Where are you holding your classes? Maximizing accessibility
CMSC recently received this inspiring note from an MSC participant and we asked her to slightly re-word her letter to address our teacher community at large. As we continue to…
Chapter 4: Teaching Self-Compassion (Excerpt)
The following is an excerpt from Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals by Chris Germer and Kristin Neff. Translations of the Professional Guide are forthcoming throughout 2020 and 2021. See…
