What stops us from practicing self-compassion? We begin today’s episode by exploring some common blocks to self-compassion and look at how the research addresses these common concerns. We identify the three defining characteristics of self-compassion and share some embodied compassion gestures to help us fully step into this way of being. We build on this with a short ‘on the go’ practice: the Self-Compassion Mantra. By exploring the phenomenon of backdraft we build an understanding of why we may sometimes need to go slowly and gently with any resistance we encounter. To consolidate the themes of the session we end with 20 minute a Compassionate Companion meditation.
About Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living
Compassion can be described as an awareness of pain and suffering -ours and others- coupled with a motivation to take action to alleviate it. Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living (MBCL) is a science backed course designed to enhance our physical, emotional and relational well-being though deepening meditation practice, growing self-compassion, and learning ways to balance kindness and compassion for others with care for ourselves.
The course was developed in 2007 by Dutch Psychotherapist Dr Erik van den Brink and Meditation Teacher and Psychiatric Nurse Frits Koster as a follow-on to foundational mindfulness programs. If you would like to read more about MBCL you can find out more at my website or the links below.
About your Host
Kate is a qualified BAMBA registered mindfulness teacher offering over 25 years of coaching expertise. She has trained with Erik van den Brink and Frits Koster, the developers of MBCL. Having experienced the transformative power of mindful compassion in her own life, she is passionate about sharing that with others in a way that is accessible, professional and infused with her own unique brand of gentle kindness.
You can follow Realise on:
https://www.realisemindfulness.com/
https://www.facebook.com/realisemindfulness
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-ensor-a4b4a62a/
https://www.instagram.com/realisemindfulness/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiUm0kgeEX-uU6_PPTc2Zaw
Find out more about MBCL:
www.mbcl.org (Erik van den Brink)https://fritskoster.com/ (Frits Koster)www.mbcl-international international.net (MBCL International)
You can also buy the MBCL course Workbook from the publisher Routledge and all good booksellers: https://www.routledge.com/A-Practical-Guide-to-Mindfulness-Based-Compassionate-Living-Living-with/Brink-Koster-Norton/p/book/9781138228931
Find out more about the work of Kristen Neff & Chris Germer
https://self-compassion.org/ (Kristen Neff)
https://chrisgermer.com/ (Chris Germer)
A quick disclaimer:
This podcast is intended as an ongoing support resource to anyone who has attended a foundational mindfulness course such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and is interested in deepening their practice in mindful compassion.
The MBCL course is rich and deep & this podcast is in no way a replacement for attending an 8-week course. Rather, it is intended as either an introduction, a companion or a refresher for the course. If you are interested in finding out more, or working with me one-to-one, you can find some helpful links above.
And remember any information you hear on this podcast and my media sites is for information purposes only and should never be a substitute for advice from a doctor, psychiatrist or any other health professional.