Recently, I attended a 4 week workshop on Mindfulness Self Compassion. MSC to me is a combination of essential mindfulness skills- here and now but the predominant focus is on self compassion. There were many meditations throughout the 4 weeks- it almost felt like all we did was meditate. But as the weeks progressed, I began to notice something. Perhaps it was the timing of the workshop which coincided with personal struggles. Or perhaps it was an internal need to begin processing the personal struggles, and the universe was sending me a message to take the workshop. Regardless of how I got there, the point is, I got there; and I began understanding how powerful MSC can really be! I teach clients mindfulness based skills yet, never really practiced any formal exercises in my own life. Once I began implementing the skills taught in the workshop in my daily practices, self compassion became a tad bit easier. Initially, I found it difficult to show myself compassion, almost as if I did not deserve it, BUT others did. I questioned this double standard thought process and finally came to terms with the ideology that if I cannot show and give myself compassion, the compassion reserve for others will only run out. When you think about it, it makes sense. A direct proportional relationship. In order to give out compassion, you must give yourself the same amount so that the reserve is always in balance. When this finally registered, the personal struggles I was working through at the time became easier. The challenging meditations also became less challenging. And although I was in the right place at the right time, I was not ready mentally and emotionally to allow myself to open that chest locked deep away in the pits of my heart. But I was able to observe it. Scan it. And even entertain the thought that perhaps, one day, maybe someday I will open it. This is what mindfulness self-compassion has done for me, what can it do for you?

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA