Self-compassion meditation is a powerful tool for reducing stress and building resilience. You can learn to practice compassion meditation through mindfulness or mind-body centers in your area, or you can download guided meditations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Healthy Minds or Kristin Neff.
Kristin Neff is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, and a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research. She conducted the first empirical studies on self-compassion almost twenty years ago and has since published a number of books on the topic.
She also co-founded the Mindful Self-Compassion Program with Chris Germer, a research-based training program to teach self-compassion skills in daily life. They co-authored The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program, both published by Guilford Press.
Her latest book, Fierce Self-Compassion, focuses on balancing tender acceptance and Mama-Bear fierceness for more empowering self-love and courage in our lives. In this podcast, she shares her perspective on the connection between self-compassion and self-esteem, a key factor in both mental health and resilience.
If you are looking to cultivate the skills of self-compassion, you can learn about the practice from the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion at the University of Texas-Austin, which offers a variety of resources and programs for individuals and groups. It is the home of MSC, an 8-week program designed to cultivate self-compassion skills for everyday life.
Practicing self-compassion requires commitment. It can be difficult to start, but it’s worth the effort.