Two Web Sites about Self-Compassion & Loving Kindness

[Kizzie]

Two excellent web sites by well-known advocates of self-compassion and loving kindness mediation sent to me by a mbr (tks SS!)

• Dr. Kristen Neff - http://self-compassion.org/  With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we'd give to a good friend.



• Dr. Christopher Germer - https://chrisgermer.com/meditations/  When we're overwhelmed with intense and disturbing emotions, such as shame, just noticing what's happening is often not enough. We need to embrace ourselves.  While mindfulness tells us, "Hold your suffering in spacious awareness," the wisdom of self-compassion says, "Be kind to yourself when you suffer." Self-kindness opens a new path to healing. Warmth creates space. Mindfulness invites us to ask, "What am I experiencing right now?" Self-compassion invites us to ask, "What do I need right now?"

[Candid]

The summaries alone gave me a lift. Thanks for posting!

[Kizzie]

I read through Chris Germer's story about how he came to see living self-kindness as essential to healing, and really liked what he has to say.  He's very open about his vulnerabilities, and so up front about only seeing the need to add the loving kindness piece to the mindfulness equation because a colleague pointed him in that direction.  He's just so human and authentic, it shines out of what he writes and I came away feeling warmed and reassured that there are people like him in the world.   

I used to avoid mindfulness because although it helped me to get in touch with what was going on subsurface, it was/is so difficult to re-experience the trauma, and then be left with that "Now what?" feeling. Asking "What do I need right now?" acknowledges that it is okay, healthy, positive and necessary to seek comfort, support, soothing, understanding, validation, kindness ....  from self and others. 

All good! 

[Lingurine]

Kizzie, please do so, I'm sure everyone here is more then happy to give you just that, support and comfort. The most important thing is to try and give that to ourselves though, I think.



Lingurine