Dear Friends,

December is here, and I've been sitting with a quiet gratitude for this community, for the way you show up for one another with care, presence, and courage.

This year for Giving Tuesday, we're offering something different: Giving Back Tuesday, a day dedicated entirely to you.

We want to meet you where you are with free practices, guided meditations, tools for navigating stress during the holiday season, and space to connect with others who are walking this path alongside you.

This community has always been built on generosity of heart. Today, we get to offer some of that back to you.

Whatever this season brings, you belong here. And there's something quietly powerful about practicing together.

In warmth and gratitude,

Elijah Zimmerman, CMSC Executive Director
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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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When Life Feels Like a Lot: Five Self-Compassionate Ways to Ease Overwhelm

by Mary Marcdante, Communications Director, MSC Teacher

Giving Back Tuesday and this giving season offer us moments to slow the pace and reconnect with what matters most during this holiday season, including creating and savoring meaningful moments and memories with the people we love and the many ways we show we care for one another. Rather than adding to the pressure of doing more, we can also let this time invite us to turn toward ourselves with the same generosity we so often extend outward. It’s a reminder that rest is not a luxury—it is a necessity; that compassion is not selfish—it is sustaining; and that joy isn’t just for children, it lives in all of us waiting to be welcomed. In this spirit, here are five ways self-compassion can help ease overwhelm and create the inner space where steadiness and joy can return during this busy season.

Meditation: Self-Compassion Practice for Overwhelm: Space in the Midst of Too Much

In the swirl of the holiday season—when expectations rise, responsibilities multiply, and the pace of life quietly speeds up—it’s easy to feel stretched thin. This practice, Self-Compassion for Overwhelm: Space in the Midst of Too Much, led by Lisa Baylis, Certified MSC Teacher and CMSC Education Director, creates just enough spaciousness to soften the edges of stress and help you meet your moments with care and kindness. It offers a gentle way to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the steadiness that’s always available within you. This meditation was inspired by a community member whose generosity and compassion reflect the very qualities at the heart of this practice—equanimity, common humanity, and gratitude. We’re grateful to share it with you in their honor.

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Free 2025 Year-End Online Silent Retreat — Renewal: Resting in Compassion, Joy, and Community

Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 8–11 am & 4–7 pm PT

As we close this year together, you’re invited to pause and replenish your spirit at our Global Year-End Online Silent Retreat “Renewal: Resting in Compassion, Joy, and Community.”
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This retreat is CMSC’s heartfelt thank-you to our worldwide community for your generosity and care over the past year. Join us in this shared space to rest within compassion itself—to slow down, reconnect with your inner wisdom, and feel restored by the shared kindness of community. Through guided meditations, heartfelt talks, and quiet reflection, we’ll honor the year behind us and open to the possibilities ahead.

This annual event also supports CMSC’s year-end fundraiser, helping sustain our free Circles of Practice and scholarships accessible worldwide. Your participation—whether simply by attending or by giving—helps extend compassion to others who need it most.

Join beloved MSC teachers Chris Germer, Laila Narsi, David Teitelman, Natalie Bell, Jorge Armesto, and Anna Friis, hosted by Lisa Baylis (AM) and Ben Weinstein (PM), for a day of renewal and community. Even if you can't make the live session, sign up anyway for a free 7-day replay.

Creating Cultures of Belonging: A Self-Compassionate Approach to Neuroinclusive Workplaces

Saturday, December 6th, 2025 — 9:00 am - 11:00 am PST (see time zone chart here)​

How can mindfulness and self-compassion transform the way we support neurodiversity at work? Join Janine Johnston on Saturday, December 6th, for a practical and inspiring workshop exploring how Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) can help create workplaces where everyone—leaders, staff, and clients alike—can truly thrive.

Through guided practices and reflection, you’ll learn how to recognize and honor neurological differences, reduce masking and burnout, and foster a culture of clarity, confidence, and compassion.

January Renewal-Focused Core Skills Workshop

With Aimee Eckhardt and David Fredrickson​
​Friday, January 23 & Saturday, January 24, 2026​
​9:00am–4:30pm PT (with a 1.5-hour break each day)

Start the new year by returning to the practices that steady, nourish, and restore you. This special two-day, Renewal-Focused Core Skills workshop is designed for those who already have some experience with Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and want to renew and deepen their practice.

Rather than teaching the full MSC curriculum, this workshop offers space for guided meditation, reflective inquiry, and experiential exercises—helping you reconnect with the essentials of self-compassion: mindfulness, kindness, and common humanity. It’s an opportunity to slow down, reset, and strengthen the inner resources that support resilience in daily life and in your work with others.

Who This Is For

Participants with prior MSC or related experience. This workshop is ideal for those wanting to begin the year grounded, spacious, and reconnected to the compassionate inner voice that sustains us all.

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.

Register

Register

Bring Self-Compassion to the Heart of Therapy

Training and support for psychotherapists integrating self-compassion into themselves and their work. Learn More Here.​

2026 MSC Teacher Training Options

In-Person Training - Canada
​February 7–13, 2026 — Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Live Online Teacher Training (LOTT-28):
Tuesdays, April 7 - June 23, 2026 | 8:00–11:00 am PT

Live Online Teacher Training (LOTT-29):
Wednesdays, July 1 - September 16, 2026 | 4:00–7:00 pm 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.