University Of Kentucky Offering Mindful Self-Compassion Workshops This Month

From the University of Kentucky:

October 9, 2020

By Aviva Cantor

Many of us struggle with thoughts and feelings that we are failing, not doing enough, falling behind or letting ourselves or others down. Kindness and compassion for ourselves and others is needed more than ever — amid a global pandemic, events of racial injustice and the challenges faced from learning new ways of working, parenting and living our daily lives.

University of Kentucky's Eric Wilkinson, a Work+Life Connections therapist, and Jackie Hanson, a health coach and wellness specialist, are teaming up to offer four October workshops on mindful self-compassion inspired by the works of psychologists Kristin Neff, Chris Germer and Tara Brach.

Research shows self-compassion increases life satisfaction, happiness, self-confidence, body appreciation, resiliency and immune function. Self-compassion decreases anxiety, depression, stress, perfectionism and shame.

Mindful self-compassion can help reconnect us to our common humanity and inner goodness, release us from the inner dread and self-critiques perpetuated by our minds and habits and generate warmth toward ourselves and the world. Additionally, mindful self-compassion helps us access our innate goodness and power to hold and release difficult experiences and emotions.

The four-session workshop on mindful self-compassion is free to the UK community. It will take place from 2-3 p.m. via Zoom, on Oct. 9, 16, 23 and 30. Community members are welcome to participate even if they cannot attend all four sessions.

Registration is required and can be completed here.

This press release was produced by the University of Kentucky. The views expressed here are the author’s own.