Dr Rick Hanson, an eminent neuropsychologist, in his book entitled Hardwiring the Brain for Happiness, states that mindfulness training that enhances our abilities to stay with our present moment experience, with an open attitude of acceptance, is in itself not enough. He says that the evolved brain has a negativity bias that makes it like Velcro for bad experience. Therefore we need to build onto our mindfulness training inner strengths from positive mental states, such as compassion and gratitude. Experiential training in developing these positive mental states enables us to meet three of our essential needs, for safety, satisfaction, and connection.
Mindful self-compassion is an experiential eight week training programme based on the groundbreaking research of Kristin Neff and the clinical expertise of Christopher Germer. It supports the development of courageous attitudes enabling us to stand up to harm, even the harm we inflict unwittingly on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, or self-absorption. MSC training teaches core skills that empower participants to respond to life's difficult moments with kindness, care, and understanding. It enhances abilities to:
Practise self-compassion in your daily life.
Motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism.
Handle difficult emotions with greater ease.
Transform challenging relationships, old and new.
Manage caregiver fatigue.
Practise the art of savouring and self-appreciation.
Understand the empirically supported benefits of self-compassion.
Course facilitator Martin Delaney completed training to teach this course under the direction of Kristin Neff and Chris Germer, and at the University of California San Diego.
An introduction to mindful self-compassion evening will take place on Wednesday September 23 at 7pm in the Clayton Hotel, Galway, costing €5.
An eight week mindful self-compassion course starts on Wednesday September 30 at 7pm in the Clayton Hotel, Galway. Numbers will be limited. For further details contact [email protected], phone 083 3930654, or visit cbtinterpretations.com
