Self-Compassion
This week I finished a ten-week long Self Compassion workshop with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion founded by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer in 2012.
And I can’t say enough about it. The course was extremely slow-paced and we learned one thing a week. But that gave us time to integrate it. I have read several books on strengthening our boundaries, on co-dependency, or keeping toxic people out, how to deal with certain lower emotions when they arise, but this one act of Self-Compassion seems like the one unlauded attribute we must all cultivate for a healthier life and healthier relationships! Sounds obvious but self-compassion is the basis of everything, yet it’s hard to fully understand what it truly is. But it’s the basis of saying no to things that are not in alignment; to stop people-pleasing; to fully being ourselves. All things that we may have adopted due to societal impositions from the time when we were young slowly start to drop away when we start to love ourselves.
Once we learn to be self-compassionate in a way that we often are with our friends then automatically and intuitively, we know how to deal with these different situations that arise because self-love, self-respect and self-compassion becomes the guide for it. I can’t recommend it enough. And if you do want to explore it, I highly recommend LA local MSC teacher and Associate Executive Director of the programs at the MSC, Natalie Bell, who is an embodiment of her teachings.
This workshop is not an indulgence, in fact, the opposite. It’s very crucial. When we lack self-compassion we hurt so many different avenues in our lives. Our friends and family, our businesses, etc. It spills over into everything we pour our energy into. Not to mention, learning how to recognize our emotions when they arise and knowing what to do with them can help increase calmness in our lives and reduce anxiety and depression. The best part about Self-Compassion is that its a skill that can be learned at any age. It’s like a switch, once it’s turned on, we can’t unsee. Although it is a life-long journey, it’s a beautiful one and I highly recommend it.