
As we turn our attention to the ways in which self-compassion manifests (or not) in our lives, there is no better time to become intimate with the doubts that we still harbor. While we may have cleared away some of the more superficially held (mis)understandings about self-compassion during our earliest encounters with the concept, for many of us, that was just a beginning. It is now time to look ever-deeper and begin to become friendly with those misgivings that still constrain our practice. Whether subtle or noisy as a cage of howler monkeys, this commitment to identifying (mindfulness) and tenderly holding (self-kindness) the beliefs that underlie our misgivings is an important preparation for the journey ahead.
- Over the next week, notice where you still struggle with misgivings/doubts about self-compassion up in your daily life. Is it possible, when misgivings arise, to hold what underlies them with the smallest measure of kindness? If you wish, contribute to the discussion post, “Where Do you See Your Misgivings Limit You?“
- Please incorporate Self-Compassion Break in your practice this week. The time is up to you: 5 minutes. 3 minutes. Any amount. When you’re done, do you feel at least a little more loved up?
- Creative Invitation: A Self-Compassionate Letter for the Journey. This is a free-writing exercise followed by a self-compassionate letter. If you wish, we can send this self-compassionate letter back to you via snail mail for you to receive when the time is right.
- On Tuesday, May 29, we will be doing the most extraordinary thing in this full life of ours: RESTING. Soaking it all in. 🙂 No class.
- This week’s video recording. Password is K1ndnessR0cks
Optional Readings
- Five Myths of Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff in Psychotherapy Networker article on Misgivings
- Video: Strengthening the Mind Through the Power of Self-Compassion by Paul Gilbert
- Self-Compassion Break (audio version by Kristin Neff)