mindfulNESS
my
experience
I became aware as thoughts arose, past, present and future. I didn’t try to solve them nor treated them as unwanted guests or something to be fixed. Simply noticing and letting go. Mindful meditation.
This practice was a blessed relief as my 30 days walking was less crowded with “stuff” allowing me to be fully present nature, walking and in my body. No judgement. The is the practice of “Mindfulness and Self-Compassion”.
This experience was so profound I wanted to learn more. My curiosity led me an Intensive 5-day course with Christopher K. Germer, PhD, and Kristin Neff, PhD, co-developers of Mindful Self-Compassion in the USA and a further MSC Teacher Training with Christopher Germer in Australia.
Along with these courses, I attended the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course in Canada and the Google Leadership “Search Inside Yourself” Course in Ireland.
mindfulness improves wellbeing
mindfulness improves physical health
mindfulness improves mental health
MSC is about being present with connection and warmth during times of pain and struggles. In these sessions you will be introduced to several practical strategies and simple tools to promote emotional strength, resilience, flexibility, acceptance and positive motivation that you can practice in your daily life. MSC is learning to ease difficult emotions, care for others compassionately and be more fully ourselves in our roles. (K. Neff)
Mindfulness
Self-compassion entails mindful awareness of our negative thoughts and emotions so that they are approached with balance and equanimity. When we are mindful, we are experientially open to the reality of the present moment without judgment, avoidance, or repression (Bishop et al., 2004).
Self-compassion involves treating yourself with the same kindness, concern and support you’d show to a good friend. An ever-increasing body of research suggests that self-compassion enables people to suffer less while also helping them to thrive.
When faced with difficult life struggles, or confronting personal mistakes, failures, and inadequacies, self-compassion responds with kindness rather than harsh self-judgment, recognizing that imperfection is part of the shared human experience. (Kristin D. Neff and Katie A. Dahm)
These sessions are an introduction to MSC practices, useful for travel and everyday life.
If you find this introduction helpful, I recommend further study and attending an MSC 8-Week Course (in person).
MSC is offered once a week for eight week and includes a half-day silent retreat.
J.R.R. Tolkien