Dear Friends,

February is often associated with connection and care, yet many of us find ourselves navigating moments of uncertainty, strain, and heartbreak in our personal lives and in the world around us. In times like these, it can be easy to feel isolated in our struggles, as if we are facing them alone.

One of the most powerful yet often overlooked elements of self-compassion is common humanity, the recognition that suffering, imperfection, and vulnerability are part of the shared human experience. When we remember that our difficulties are not unique or personal failures, something softens. We begin to feel less alone, more connected, and more capable of meeting hardship with kindness rather than self-criticism.

And here's where common humanity opens a door: when we truly recognize that others are struggling too, carrying their own invisible burdens and facing their own moments of doubt and heartache, compassion naturally begins to flow outward. The same gentleness we learn to offer ourselves becomes something we can extend to the people around us, even strangers, even those whose struggles look different from our own.

Cultivating common humanity can be a daily practice: pausing to acknowledge, "This is hard, and I'm not the only one," or noticing how our own experiences mirror those of countless others across communities and cultures. We might also ask, "Who else might be finding this moment difficult? How can we support one another?" In a world marked by collective challenges, this perspective helps us stay grounded and reminds us that we don't have to figure it all out alone. Together, with compassion for ourselves and for one another, we find our way forward.

With gratitude and warm wishes,

Elijah Zimmerman, CMSC 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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Caring for Yourself, Caring for Nature: A Pro-Environmental Mechanism of Self-Compassion and Intervention Study

As we reflect on common humanity, we can also remember to be mindful of the living world around us that is within our environment. New research highlights the ripple effects of self-compassion beyond personal wellbeing. A recent study found that cultivating self-compassion can increase pro-environmental behavior, partly by reducing materialistic values. Through both survey data and a brief intervention, researchers showed that when people relate to themselves with greater kindness and understanding, they become more motivated to care for the world around them. These findings suggest that self-compassion may not only support inner resilience but also inspire more sustainable and prosocial choices in daily life.

When Things Feel Hard: A Guided Meditation for Resting in Common Humanity

In times of uncertainty and global suffering, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, helpless, or weighed down by concern for others. This 8-minute guided meditation, led by MSC Teacher and CMSC Communications Director Mary Marcdante, offers a gentle invitation to pause, slow down, and reconnect with common humanity—remembering that we are not alone in our struggles or our care. Through mindful awareness and self-kindness, this practice supports you in acknowledging difficult emotions such as sadness, guilt, or powerlessness without judgment, while softening the sense that you must carry everything on your own. You’re invited to rest in the shared human experience, allowing compassion to flow with steadiness and care—for yourself and for others.

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Self-Forgiveness: Steps to Healing Shame
3-Hour Workshop with Chris Germer

Happening Soon! ​
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 8:00 am - 11:00 am PT

When people think of self-compassion, they often think of self-forgiveness. However, self-compassion is only one step on the path to self-forgiveness. Self-forgiveness is delicate and complicated. We can create the conditions for self-forgiveness to occur, but when self-forgiveness happens, it happens quite on its own.

This 3-hour workshop will consist of talks, exercises, and discussion. Participants will learn the 5 steps to self-forgiveness and have a direct, personal experience of each step. To open the door to practice, participants will also learn some key aspects of the theory and research on self-forgiveness.

In this workshop, you can expect:

• Research summary on self-forgiveness
• Five key steps to self-forgiveness
• The role of self-compassion in self-forgiveness
• The skill of self-forgiveness to alleviate shame in daily life

This workshop is ideal for: Everyone is welcome to attend. Some experience with self-compassion may be helpful.

Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities (SCHC) 6-Week Course with Adrienne Gaudet

Wednesdays, February 25 - April 1, 2026, 9:00-10:00 am PT

Healthcare professionals give so much of themselves—often at the cost of their own wellbeing. Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities (SCHC) is a 6-week, evidence-based course designed specifically to support those working in healthcare with practical, on-the-spot tools for resilience, emotional balance, and sustainable care.

Adapted from the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program, SCHC addresses the unique pressures of healthcare work, including burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and time constraints. Research shows the program can increase self-compassion, mindfulness, and job satisfaction while reducing stress, depression, and burnout.

Through guided practices, reflection, and community learning, participants will explore how to care for themselves while caring for others—reconnecting with purpose, strengthening inner resources, and cultivating a compassionate voice that supports both personal wellbeing and professional practice.

Wednesdays, February 25 – April 1, 2026
9:00–10:00 am PT

Self-Compassion for Shame 5-Day Intensive
Sedona Mago with Chris Germer, David Fredrickson, & Carolina Bautista-Velez

March 22nd - 27th, 2026, Sedona, Arizona In-Person

Join us in beautiful Sedona for a transformative, in-person intensive version of the 8-week Self-Compassion for Shame program, developed by Dr. Chris Germer and the SC-Shame team. This advanced MSC course offers a compassionate, non-pathological approach to understanding shame—and how self-compassion can be a powerful antidote.

Through teaching, inquiry, and experiential practices, participants explore the personal and cultural roots of shame and learn practical ways to meet shame with care, clarity, and connection in daily life.

Who Should Attend:
​This advanced course is open to those who have completed a full MSC program (8-week MSC, LOMSC, or 5-Day Intensive) and maintain a daily MSC practice.

Early Bird Pricing ends February 22

Questions about eligibility? Contact hello@centerformsc.org

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

​Live Online 5-Day MSC Silent Retreat ​
Wednesday - Sunday, April 15-20, 2026 ​
​(Prerequisite for Teacher Training completed at least two months before taking your Teacher Training)

​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

​Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy (SCIP)
​Live Online Level 1 Training Applications Open​
​Mondays, April 20 - July 6, 2026 | 9:00 - 11:00 am PT
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Free CMSC International Women's Day 2026
Live Online 3-Hour Mini-Retreat
​"The Courage to Speak, The Right to Belong"

Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 8:00 am -11:00 am PT

Join us for the Fourth Annual CMSC Live Online International Women's Day Retreat. You’re welcome to join at the top of any hour and attend for one, two, or all three sessions.
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In a world that often asks women to be strong, silent, or self-sacrificing without consideration for their own needs, this retreat offers space to notice how self-compassion, held within a safe and welcoming community, can support courage, connection, and care across our relationships, work, families, and inner lives.
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Through brief talks and guided meditation practices led by four Certified MSC Teachers—host and creator of this annual retreat Laila Narsi, and presenters including CMSC Board Vice President Marta Alonso, and Circles of Practice Teachers Noriko Morita Harth and Heather Shaughnessy-Cato, we’ll reflect on how women’s voices are shaped, strengthened, and sustained through compassionate presence.
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​This event is free to attend and the replay will be available for free for seven days. Extended access for one year is available for a donation of $15 or more to support CMSC's programming and Circles of Practice Retreats and daily sessions.

Free Training: Healing Trauma With Compassion-Based Approaches

Discover how compassion and self-compassion can transform the healing process! We’re excited to co-sponsor and share a special opportunity with our good friends at The Awake Network. Receive FREE access to the highly popular training on Healing Trauma With Compassion-Based Approaches — featuring CMSC co-founders Christopher Germer, PhD, and Kristin Neff, PhD, and Certified MSC Teacher Sydney Spears, as well as Gabor Maté, MD, Richard Schwartz, PhD, David Treleaven, PhD, and many more…

In this free online training for mental health professionals, you’ll explore the latest research on trauma and compassion, gain core skills for supporting your clients and yourself with self-compassion, and learn evidence-based practices to create a therapeutic space where deep healing becomes possible.

Register for the free online training, airing February 25–27, 2026

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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.