Mindful Self-Compassion

What is Mindful Self-Compassion? Mindful Self-Compassion is an 8-week, training program designed to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. Based on the groundbreaking research of Kristin Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer, MSC teaches core principles and practices that enable participants to respond to difficult moments in their lives with kindness, care and understanding. The three key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and balanced, mindful awareness. Kindness opens our hearts to suffering, so we can give ourselves what we need. Common humanity opens us to our essential interrelatedness, so that we know we aren’t alone. Mindfulness opens us to the present moment, so we can accept our experience with greater ease. Together they comprise a state of warm-hearted, connected presence. Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn’t receive enough affection in childhood or who feel uncomfortable when they are good to themselves. It’s a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm that we unwittingly inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, or self-absorption. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when needed, relate wholeheartedly to others, and be more authentically ourselves. Rapidly expanding research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships. And it’s easier than you think.

What To Expect Program activities include meditation, 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 learn practices that evoke self-compassion in daily life. MSC is primarily a compassion training program rather than mindfulness training like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), although mindfulness is the foundation of self-compassion. MSC is also not psychotherapy insofar as the emphasis of MSC is on building emotional resources rather than addressing old wounds. Positive change occurs naturally as we develop the capacity to be with ourselves in a kinder, more compassionate way. It is said that “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. Prior to registering, participants should plan to attend every session and practice mindfulness and self-compassion at least 30 minutes per day throughout the program.  

Prerequisites No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend MSC. To insure safety, participants are asked to provide background information when they register for the program. It is recommended that participants read one or both of following books before or during the program:

• Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, by Kristin Neff
• The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, by Christopher Germer

This program fulfills one of the prerequisites for becoming a MSC teacher. For more information on MSC and MSC Teacher Training, please visit www.CenterForMSC.org.  

Instructor Jean Leonard, Ph.D., RYT  is a licensed psychologist and registered yoga teacher in private practice in Louisville, Colorado.  In her teaching and mindfulness-informed therapeutic work, she enjoys supporting individuals in meeting the circumstances of their lives with more grace and good humor.  She has practiced yoga for over 28 years and vipassana meditation since 2003, and teaches Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion classes and other mindfulness workshops throughout Colorado.  She is a certified MSC teacher and has completed the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher Training with Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, along with advanced supervision with Michelle Becker, LMFT.  She also studied MBSR with the Duke University Center for Integrative Medicine and with Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santarelli.  She has a particular interest in mindfulness related to aging, illness and dying.

Upcoming 2022 Classes and Registration