Instead of the Mindful Mondays sessions I’ve offered in the past, this semester I would like to facilitate a weekly group exploration of the practice of mindful self-compassion. Although mindfulness and self-compassion are complementary practices that are both linked with better mental health, three recent research studies found that self-compassion influences mental health to a greater extent than mindfulness meditation alone. A regular practice of mindful self-compassion is a great way to reduce self-judgment and self-criticism and to improve your overall mental health. See the links below for more information on mindful self-compassion.
Rather than arbitrarily setting a schedule and seeing who shows up (as I have done in the past), I would prefer to let those who are interested sign up for the group and then figure out a day / time / modality that works for everyone (or at least for the majority). This will probably work best as a hybrid experience, with both asynchronous content and synchronous meetings (a model that I’m hoping to implement in more of our workshops / topics moving forward).
So if this sounds like something you might be interested in…
Join us for an ongoing exploration of the benefits of practicing mindful self-compassion! This group will focus on the research-based practices developed by of Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Chris Germer to facilitate mindful self-compassion. We will explore a variety of resources on mindful self-compassion and learn about (and try out) some of the recommended tools and techniques for putting it into practice in our own lives. Sign up for the group, and we’ll determine the best day / time / modality for our synchronous meetings.
About Mindful Self-Compassion:
Modern society encourages us all to work hard, achieve more, and be the best – to “win” at life. Rather than strengthening our relationships or leading us to success, however, this constant focus on competition tends to lead to isolation and to self-criticism, a self-defeating tendency that just gets in the way of our primary goals of being successful, belonging, and being loved. Although the concept of self-compassion is often seen negatively (as complacency, weakness, selfishness, self-indulgence, self-pity, or narcissism), it is actually a healthy alternative to self-criticism that tends to make us more compassionate towards others, as well as resulting in greater well-being, empowerment, and inner strength. The science shows that self-compassion leads to decreased stress and increased productivity and resilience.
For more information on self-compassion, check out the following videos from Dr. Neff.
* Self-Compassion Part 1 – Introduction (3:08)
* Self-Compassion Part 2 – Self-Kindness (4:39)
* Self-Compassion Part 3 – Common Humanity (4:13)
* Self-Compassion Part 4 – Mindfulness (3:45)
* Self-Compassion Part 5 – Self-Compassion vs. Self-Esteem (4:24)
* The Paradox of Self-Compassion (1:45)