Holding Ourselves Gently: The Deep Practice of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is not complete.”
Imagine someone you deeply care about is having a hard time. Maybe they’re experiencing a painful conflict with a love one, or at their job. Maybe something they really hoped would work out did not happen, or they’re struggling with a health issue. Whatever it is, they’re suffering. As someone who deeply cares for this person: How would you meet them, talk to them, be with them?
And if you now imagined that same thing happened to yourself… Judging from past experience, how would you expect to meet yourself, talk to yourself, in the midst of that same suffering?
If you believe you’d meet the other person rather kindly but yourself with quite a bit of impatience, harshness, self-blame and -criticism: Yes! That’s normal. That’s 78 percent of people in Western culture. Kindness for others often seems to come more easily. So how can we include ourselves in that circle of our own compassion? The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program offers a whole array of highly experiential practices, exercises, and guided meditations. It’s inspired both by traditional spirituality and contemporary psychology. Empirical evidence shows that this secular, science-based program enhances overall emotional well-being and resilience, and that it reduces stress and anxiety. Some participants describe it as profoundly transformative. Even long-time spiritual practitioners are often amazed by how their hearts seem to be melting over the course of the eight weeks during which the program is usually delivered.
In this one-day workshop we’re going to explore some self-compassion fundamentals, some common misconceptions and roadblocks, and some deeper practices that can help us meet ourselves with kindness, even in the very midst of challenging situations. This workshop is designed to be highly experiential, inclusive, and trauma-sensitive.
“Self-compassion is a more effective motivator than self-criticism, because its driving force is love, not fear.”
More information on self-compassion and MSC in a TED Talk by Kristin Neff:
Practical information:
Date: March 23rd, 10am – 5 pm (with a one-hour break for lunch and some shorter breaks in between).
Fee: 40 dollars, reduced fee for those on limited income 20 dollars
Everybody is welcome, no previous experience required.
Space is limited, please register to avoid disappointment!
MSC can be therapeutic, but it is no substitute for therapy, and the workshop does require some basic emotional stability. If you’re not quite sure whether this workshop would be appropriate for you at the time being, please consult with your therapist and/or the workshop facilitator.
About the facilitator:
Sascha Borrée is a Zen practitioner with MRZC and a mindfulness teacher. He is trained as a facilitator for Mindful Self-Compassion, Non-Violent Communication, and a number of embodiment practices. He has taught various workshops and courses, among others at Zen centers in Germany. Currently, he is training to be a clinical counsellor in Vancouver. This workshop is offered as part of Sascha’s practicum for Adler University.
