Mindful Self Compassion Intensive

Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) 5 day intensive November 2025
Dates: 14th-19th November 20225.
Times: Arrival 4.30pm, programme will commence in the evening after dinner on the 14th, departure after lunch on the 19th.
Teachers: Tina Gibson and Adele Stewart
Venue: Brahma Kumaris Centre, Wilton NSW
Cost:

The emphasis of the programme is on building the resources of self-compassion and mindfulness through a process of self-discovery. We begin with mindfulness, through which we turn with loving awareness toward difficult experiences (thoughts, emotions, and sensations). Next, we learn to turn that loving awareness toward ourselves. Together, mindfulness and self-compassion comprise a state of warm, connected, presence during difficult moments in our lives. Please keep in mind that MSC is therapeutic, but it’s not therapy.  MSC is not a substitute for medical or mental health care.

This MSC intensive includes short talks, experiential exercises, meditations, contemplations, and small and larger group discussion. Resources will be provided to support ongoing practice after the intensive is completed.

The three key components of self-compassion are self-kindness, a sense of common humanity, and balanced, mindful awareness. Kindness opens our hearts to suffering, so we can give ourselves what we need. Common humanity opens us to our essential interrelatedness, so that we know we aren’t alone. Mindfulness opens us to the present moment, so we can accept our experience with greater ease. Together they comprise a state of warm-hearted, connected presence.

Self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those who didn’t receive enough affection in childhood or who feel uncomfortable when they are good to themselves. It’s a courageous attitude that stands up to harm, including the harm that we unwittingly inflict on ourselves through self-criticism, self-isolation, or self-absorption. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience, allowing us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with kindness, forgive ourselves when needed, relate wholeheartedly to others, and be more authentically ourselves.

Rapidly expanding research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, less anxiety, depression and stress, maintenance of healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and satisfying personal relationships.

Course Outcomes

Participating in this programme can support you with:

• Motivating yourself with encouragement rather than self-criticism;
• Relating to difficult emotions with greater moment-to-moment acceptance;
• Responding to feelings of failure or inadequacy with self-kindness;
• Transforming difficult relationships, old and new, through self-validation;
• Practicing the art of savouring and self-appreciation;
• Identifying core mindfulness and self-compassion exercises for use in daily life;
• Discussing simple self-compassion practices with patients, students, or clients;
• Describing the theory and research supporting self-compassion;
• Identifying fierce and tender aspects of self-compassion and their role in well-being.