Dear Friends,
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Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in CMSC's Midyear Renewal Retreat. More than 5,000 people from 101 countries came together to explore our theme, Belonging to Ourselves and Each Other. Your presence, openness, and willingness to practice together helped create a truly meaningful global community.
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One of the things that continues to inspire me about the CMSC community is the willingness people from so many different cultures, backgrounds, and life experiences to come together in a shared commitment to self-compassion. At a time when so many people are experiencing uncertainty, division, and loneliness, gatherings like these remind us that we are not alone and that compassion has the power to connect us across borders.
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We are equally grateful to everyone who made a donation to our CMSC Midyear Fundraiser. Your generosity helps make gatherings like the Renewal Retreat possible and supports scholarships, free Circles of Practice, teacher training, and other programs that bring self-compassion to people and communities who might not otherwise have access to it.
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If you have not yet had an opportunity to contribute and would like to support this work, we warmly invite you to make a gift before August 12. Every gift matters to our mission. Whatever amount you are able to contribute, your generosity helps us continue making self-compassion more accessible to people and communities around the world.
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As we move into August, my hope is that the sense of belonging we experienced together in the retreat continues to shape how we relate to ourselves and to one another in the weeks and months ahead.
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Thank you for being part of this community.

With warmth and gratitude,
​Michael Reved​
Interim Executive Director

Vielen Dank • Muchas Gracias • Tack så mycket • Veel dank • Merci beaucoup
非常感谢你 • ありがとうございました • Thank you very much
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What 5,000 People Taught Me About Belonging
by Mary Marcdante

What can a global gathering teach us about feeling less alone? Reflecting on CMSC’s Midyear Renewal Retreat, MSC Teacher and CMSC Communications Director Mary Marcdante shares what this community experience revealed about belonging, shared humanity, and the ways self-compassion can help us meet ourselves and one another with more kindness, greater trust, and deeper connection.

She writes: “Self-compassion touched more than half the 195 countries in the world through this retreat! And that was possible because of all of you! Thank you.”

Her reflection invites you to consider what you want to carry forward into your own life, work, relationships, and community.

What will stay with you—and how will you carry self-compassion forward?

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We invite you to carry self-compassion forward and support CMSC through our Midyear Fundraising Campaign. Your donation helps CMSC continue offering scholarships, free community programs, educational resources, and accessible opportunities for people around the world to learn and practice self-compassion.
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As a thank you for gifts of $25 or more made by August 12, you will receive one year of ad-free access to the complete six-hour retreat replay in the CMSC Learning Platform—and provide a replay scholarship to one of the 880 members of our community who requested financial assistance.

Meditation: Embracing Gratitude and Spreading Goodwill with Noriko Morita Harth

In this calming and nourishing 45-minute soft landing and guided meditation, Certified MSC Teacher Noriko Morita Harth invites you into a heartfelt space to reflect on the gifts of gratitude and the quiet power of goodwill. Recorded during CMSC’s 2024 Year-End Renewal Retreat, Noriko’s soothing voice gently guides you with awareness and self-compassion to support your own well-being and radiate warmth to others. Come as you are—there’s nothing to fix, only space to feel, soften, and connect.

Join Noriko Morita Harth for a gentle introduction to silent retreat practice inTouching the Still Point — A Taste of Silent Retreat on Tuesday, August 26, 2026 (live online). In this workshop, you’ll explore how periods of guided silence, mindfulness, and self-compassion can help you settle the mind, soften the heart, and reconnect with your inner resources.

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Exchanging Self-Criticism for Self-Compassion
with Chris Germer

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 9:00 am - 12:15 pm PT
​Cost: $145

We all have an inner critic—that familiar voice that questions, judges, and pushes us to be better. But what if that voice isn’t helping as much as we think? What if there’s another way to relate to ourselves—one that supports growth and well-being?

Join Chris Germer for a live online workshop, Exchanging Self-Criticism for Self-Compassion, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 9:00 am–12:15 pm PT. This 3-hour session offers a practical, research-informed path for transforming harsh self-talk into a kinder, more supportive inner dialogue.

Through teaching, reflection, and guided practices, you’ll explore how self-compassion reduces stress, enhances resilience, and improves relationships. You’ll also learn the PEACE process—a step-by-step way to work with the inner critic and respond to yourself with greater understanding and care.

Whether you’re new to self-compassion or looking to deepen your practice, this workshop offers a meaningful opportunity to experience a powerful shift: moving from self-judgment to self-kindness—one moment at a time.

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​Donate $250 to CMSC's Fundraiser by August 12, and you'll receive this workshop and The Courage to Care, a three-hour Masterclass featuring bestselling author Rick Hanson, PhD, Jonathan Walker, MD, and Lisa Baylis, MA, as thank you gifts, and save $40.

NEW COURSE: MSC for Busy People
with Megan Prager

September 17, Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 am PT,
Course: 6-Week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
​Dates: September 17 - October 22, 2026
​Cost: $325
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​Discover how just a few moments of self-compassion can make a meaningful difference in your day.

Life is busy, and caring for yourself can easily fall to the bottom of the list. MSC for Busy People is a new, accessible introduction to Mindful Self-Compassion designed for those who want practical tools to navigate stress, overwhelm, and burnout without committing to a longer course.

Whether you're a busy professional, healthcare worker, educator, caregiver, or simply curious about self-compassion, this course offers simple, effective practices you can integrate into everyday life. It's also an excellent option for individuals looking to explore MSC for the first time or those who aren't yet ready p to commit to a full 10-week program.

Through focused lessons and practical exercises, participants will learn how to respond to challenges with greater kindness, resilience, and emotional balance, bringing the benefits of self-compassion into even the busiest schedules.
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​Join us for a f​ree 30 minute information session here. You can receive $50 off the full registration fee of $325 for coming to the Information Session (not valid with other discount codes).

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If you're interested in becoming a Mindful Self-Compassion teacher, or a Self-Compassion in Healthcare Communities Facilitator, explore our 10-Week LOMSC (Live Online Mindful Self-Compassion) course which meets those prerequisites.

Touching the Still Point: A Taste of Silent Retreat with Noriko Morita Harth

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm PT
Cost: $95

In the midst of busy lives and constant input, it can be rare to truly pause—to step out of the noise and reconnect with a quieter, steadier place within. And yet, even a brief moment of stillness can begin to shift how we relate to ourselves and our experience.

Join Noriko Morita Harth for a gentle introduction to silent retreat practice in Touching the Still Point — A Taste of Silent Retreat on Tuesday, August 26, 2026 (live online). In this workshop, you’ll explore how periods of guided silence, mindfulness, and self-compassion can help you settle the mind, soften the heart, and reconnect with your inner resources.

Drawing from the Mindful Self-Compassion approach, this session offers a supportive and accessible way to experience the restorative power of silence—whether you’re new to retreat practice or looking to deepen your ongoing work. Together, we’ll create space to step out of doing and into being, discovering how stillness can become a foundation for clarity, resilience, and care.

For those who feel drawn to continue, this workshop also offers a meaningful introduction to Noriko’s upcoming 5-Day Live Online Silent Retreat, Surrendering to the Flow of Life: Cultivating Wisdom, Compassion, and Belonging, co-led with Carolina Bautista-Velez from November 11–16, 2026.

Live Online Mindful Self-Compassion (LOMSC)

Learn the full practices and theories of self-compassion in our 10-week, live online programs! These courses are taught by certified MSC teachers around the world and help you establish a consistent self-compassion practice founded in research and science. You'll learn how self-compassion can lessen anxiety, depression, and stress and improve your relationships, health, and resilience. Join a course today. Courses available monthly. Explore all upcoming LOMSC dates.

August 11 - October 13​ ​Tuesdays 9-11 am PT ​ Register

August 21 - October 30​ ​Friday 8-10 am PT ​ Register

​September 18, Fierce Self-Compassion 8-Week Course with Laila Narsi​
​Fridays 9-11:30 am PT
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​September 23, Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities (SCHC) with Adrienne Gaudet​
Wednesdays, 9-10 am PT

Saturday, October 10, 2026 Masterclass and CMSC Fundraiser on "The Courage to Care: Compassion for Ourselves and Our World." with founder of Global Compassion Coalition and New York Times best-selling author Rick Hanson, PhD, Jon Walker, MD, and Lisa Baylis, MA. Welcome and introduction by CMSC Co-Founders Chris Germer and Kristin Neff. Three hours | $145

Donate $250 to CMSC's Fundraiser by August 12, and you'll receive this workshop and Chris Germer's 3-hour workshop "From Self-Criticism to Self-Compassion" as thank you gifts, and save $40.

​Wednesdays, November 9, 2026, Self-Compassion in Healthcare Communities (SCHC) Facilitator Training​
​with Lisa Baylis and Mila de Koning
​Prerequisites: LOMSC and SCHC (August start date to qualify for November)

​November 11th - November 16th, 2026​
​Surrendering to the Flow of Life: Cultivating Wisdom, Compassion, and Belonging: A Silent Retreat Exploring Impermanence, Transitions, and the Heart of Compassion
with Noriko Harth and Carolina Bautista-Velez

Saturday, December 12, 2026
Year-End Renewal Retreat: Coming Home to Ourselves: Returning to Self-Compassion
​8-11 am and 4-7pm PT
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The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion is an international nonprofit organization that serves over 250,000 people in our global community. We are dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving the collective well-being of the planet through scientifically researched self-compassion training and practice. Our vision is a world where each person matters and everyone belongs. Your donations allow us to share self-compassion training around the world and keep Circles of Practice free to those in need. Thank you in advance for any support you are inspired to donate.