Next courses: February and October 2021
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A proven way to accept ourselves, build inner strength and thrive.
Explore…
—Slowing down, self-awareness and savouring the present moment
—How to become more confident, resilient, joyful and motivated
—The science of self-compassion and why most of us ignore this vital skill
—Simple practices to transform moments of suffering into moments of love
—How to befriend ourselves and nourish our needs
—Relating to ourselves and others authentically and wholeheartedly
—Moments of connection and shared common humanity
—Building courage and appreciating our values and strengths
—How to transform the inner critic into an inner coach
The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) programme teaches us how to motivate ourselves and build our inner resources with kindness, compassion and wisdom.
The blend of mindfulness and self-compassion allow us insight into our emotions, together with the resources to maintain balance, build resilience and decrease our suffering.
Self compassion, simply put, means being a friend to ourselves.
The three components of self-compassion are mindfulness, kindness and common humanity.
—Mindfulness helps us get in touch with our feelings, with curiosity and open-mindedness.
—Kindness brings comfort and warmth, soothing distress and refreshing our motivation.
—Connecting with others reminds us that we all have flaws, that we’re all human, and that we’re in this together.
“The point of practice is not to perfect ourselves, it is to perfect our love.” ~Jack Kornfield
Who can benefit from self-compassion?
Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn’t receive much affection in childhood or who feel uncomfortable being good to themselves.
It’s the practice of repeatedly evoking good will toward ourselves and the courage to stand up against harm— especially the harm we inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation or self-absorption.
Self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintaining healthy habits like diet and exercise and satisfying personal relationships.
And it’s easier than you think.
After participating in this workshop, you’ll know:
—how to stop being so hard on yourself
—how to handle difficult emotions with greater ease
—how to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism
—how to transform difficult relationships, both old and new
—mindfulness and self-compassion practices for home and everyday life
—the theory and research behind mindful self-compassion
—how to become your own best teacher
What to expect
Programme activities include meditations, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion and home practices. MSC is a workshop rather than a retreat. The goal is for participants to directly experience self-compassion and be able to practise self-compassion in daily life.
“I’ve found the informal practices such as stopping and asking myself what I need, and using the Self-Compassion Break, to be really helpful.” ~Kevin
“The perfect climate for learning and exploring mindfulness and self-compassion. It’s amazing what others tell you when you give compassion.” ~Jolanda
MSC is primarily a compassion training rather than a mindfulness training. Although mindfulness is the basis for self-compassion, in MSC we focus on building emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. Positive change occurs as we develop the capacity to be with ourselves in a kinder, more compassionate way.
“Love reveals everything unlike itself…”
While some difficult emotions may arise when practicing self-compassion, MSC teachers are committed to providing a safe, supportive environment for this process to unfold, and to making the journey interesting and enjoyable for everyone.
MSC includes 8 weekly sessions of 3 hours each, in addition to a 4-hour retreat.
Please note that we have a policy of not turning anyone away for financial reasons. We offer both concessions and scholarships. Please get in touch if you would like to come but cannot afford it.
Is MSC effective?
A randomised, controlled trial demonstrated that MSC significantly increased self-compassion, compassion for others, mindfulness, and life satisfaction, as well as decreased depression, anxiety and stress. Improvements were linked to how much a person practiced mindfulness and self-compassion in their daily lives.
MSC was developed by Christopher K. Germer, PhD, leader in the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy, and Kristin Neff, PhD, pioneering researcher in the field of self-compassion.
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