Occasionally when doing zazen (meditating), I’ll be derailed by strong painful emotions such as shame. My body wants to get off the mat and, try as I might, it seems impossible to return to the practice. Today, to my relief, I read a section of the Mindful Self-Compassion program that affirms my instinct to stop […]

Another simple practice from Chris Germer and Kristen Neff’s book Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals is a “Compassionate Letter to Myself” (pp.245 & 248). Here, so I don’t forget, are various steps for this approach: Notice your self-critical voice. What are the words? or what is the tone of this voice? […]

One simple practice that Chris Germer and Kristen Neff encourage in their book Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals is “Mindfulness in Daily Life” (p.200). Here are some of their practical suggestions: Pick an ordinary activity. You might choose drinking a hot beverage in the morning, brushing your teeth, or taking a […]

On April 21, I was fortunate to hear Christopher Germer speak on “Looking at Shame Through the Eyes of Self-Compassion” as part of The Awake Network’s Compassion in Therapy Summit. This seems to have been one of those pivotal moments for me. A few days later, I committed to reading about and practicing Mindful Self-Compassion […]