Dear CMSC Community,

The work of easing suffering and nurturing kindness to ourselves matters now more than ever. These shared commitments give us the strength to navigate uncertainty and move forward with purpose.

Whether you’ve taken a course, used CMSC resources, made a donation, or simply brought self‑compassion into your day, you’ve made this work possible. Thank you. Your participation drives our mission forward and shows the real‑world impact of compassion in action.

Here’s our Mission Impact Briefing: an opportunity to reflect on our progress, reconnect with our direction, and celebrate the difference we’re making together.

Expanding Access, Equity, and Inclusion

Self-compassion belongs to everyone. In 2024, we took meaningful steps to ensure our programs reach more people, in more places, with fewer barriers:

• 270 scholarships were offered; $60,455 in support was distributed to participants in need
• A new internal payment plan was created for those in countries with lower exchange rates
• We hosted a transformative 3-part DEIB series with Dr. Robyn Gobin
• Our Circles of Practice celebrated a decade of free, donation-based sessions and retreats—thanks to 38 dedicated volunteer MSC teachers who served over 12,000 participants worldwide
• We started International Self-Compassion Day for global connection

This work is not only about access—it’s about belonging.

Deepening Support for Teachers and Mentors

This year, we recommitted to the heart of our teaching community by offering new ways to connect, grow, and feel supported:

• Welcomed four new North American trainers-in-training
• Offered six sessions in our 2024 Learning Series, focusing on key topics requested by teachers
• Enhanced mentorship pathways and improved communication around available resources
• Gathered insights through our Teacher Survey, which highlighted the desire for advanced training, mentorship, and support in areas like inquiry, logistics, and marketing

Many teachers also shared that MSC continues to show up in their client work, daily lives, and personal healing journeys. Self‑compassion’s influence reaches beyond the individual, quietly fostering well‑being across our wider communities.

Global Reach, Local Roots

In 2024, we began updating policies and partnerships to reflect shared values across diverse regions. This included reviewing guidelines for international collaborations, teacher agreements, and Circles of Practice, aiming for our global work to reflect mutual respect and clarity.

We’re continually refining our core programs—drawing on participant feedback and current research—to keep our offerings relevant and impactful.

Financial Stewardship: Navigating with Intention

Like many nonprofits navigating post-pandemic realities, 2024 brought both challenge and opportunity. While overall revenue and expenses were modestly lower than in 2023, we used this moment to recalibrate:

• Moved toward a balanced, mission-aligned financial decisions
• Invested in key infrastructure and staffing for long-term sustainability
• Made thoughtful decisions to protect the integrity and accessibility of our programs

Fundraising remains essential. Scholarships, learning system upgrades, and outreach efforts all depend on the generosity of our extended community. Every donation is an act of compassion that helps someone, somewhere, find their way to self-kindness.

A detailed financial report, including audited statements, will be available on our website soon.

2025: A Year to Deepen

As we step into 2025, we do so with greater clarity, stronger systems, and a deepened commitment to our global community. Our focus is:

• Deepen impact through high-quality programs across diverse settings
• Support teachers with tools, mentorship, and community
• Stay responsive to the changing needs of those we serve
• Continue careful financial stewardship and regenerative funding to sustain and expand our work

We remain steadfast in our guiding invitation: to turn toward ourselves and each other with kindness.

With Gratitude,

Elijah Zimmerman (He, They), 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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Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults’ (TNBYA) Mindful Self-Compassion Feasibility and Acceptability Determination (TRANSCEND) Study

A team at the University of Rhode Island is exploring how feasible their plan is to deliver MSC remotely to transgender and nonbinary young adults (TNBYA; 18-25) collect data, and follow-up after 3 months. The team will also explore whether TNBYA are comfortable with the program, would want to do it again, or recommend it to others (acceptability) and ask for feedback on how to make activities more inclusive of their unique needs and experiences. Just in time for PRIDE Month, the team recently started recruiting their first cohort of TNBYA.

The team is being led by Jordon Bosse (he/him), PhD, RN, Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island and recently trained MSC Teacher. Other members of the team include Jorge Armesto (he/him), PhD, clinical psychologist, Certified MSC Teacher and Teacher Trainer; and River Chevannes, (they/them), LCSW, MSC Teacher-in-Training; Emma M (they/them) undergraduate research assistant; and Madison M (she/her), nursing research fellow. This work builds on the work of Karen Bluth (she/her), PhD, Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina, co-creator of the MSC for Teens program, and Certified MSC Teacher, along with her team, who tested MSC for Teens with a small group of transgender and nonbinary teens.

How can I help?

• Spread the word! The TRANSCEND Team welcomes your help connecting with U.S.-based TNBYA who might be interested in joining the study.
• Share your expertise! If you’re a member of the Transgender and Nonbinary community and have regular mindfulness/self-compassion practice, you might be interested in joining the community advisory board of the study, which will meet 3-4 times a year (virtually) to review study progress and guide next steps.
• Join the team! If you are a member of the TNB community and trained to teach MSC or have taken MSC and are interested in training to become a teacher, please reach out. We’re especially interested in diversifying our team to include transwoman/transfeminine people, nonbinary people who were assigned male at birth, and people who are Black, Indigenous, Latine, or belong to other racialized communities. Bonus points for folks who are trained mental health providers. Currently, our funding limits us to working with people in the US.

If you have questions, want to share information about the study with TNBYA, or want to be involved in another way, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Bosse at Jordon.bosse@uri.edu or transcendmscstudy@gmail.com​

Meditation: Affectionate Breathing with Raphael Jay Adjani

Join this Affectionate Breathing meditation from Certified MSC Teacher and CMSC Circles of Practice LGBTQ+ Leader Raphael Jay Adjani, PhD, originally recorded during Session Two of the 10-Week Live Online MSC Course. The intention of this meditation is to bring mindful awareness to the present moment by specifically focusing on the breath, while also bringing care in a compassionate way to yourself and your experience. Hopefully, this guided practice will enable you to practice awareness that can help regulate your emotions during stressful moments, allowing you to connect more warmly with yourself.

Upcoming courses and events with Raphael Jay Adjani:

​https://centerformsc.org/collections/lomsc-10-week-course​

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​Raphael will also be leading a Free CMSC Circles of Practice LGBTQ+ “Pride Sanctuary One Hour Mini-Retreat” June 16th, 6-7 pm PT.​

Self-Compassion for Caregivers Workshop With Kristin Neff

June 21st, Saturday 9am PT

9:00am - 12:00pm PT / 12:00pm - 3:00pm ET - Click here to view a Time Conversion Chart. ​
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Caring for others without losing yourself.

Think of all the generous, kind people you know who constantly give compassion and care to others, yet continually beat themselves up. Most of us are quite practiced at being supportive and giving to others, especially those of us who find ourselves in caregiver roles. Whether we have a special needs child, a parent with Alzheimer’s, an ill partner, or are in a caregiving profession such as being a doctor, nurse, therapist, or teacher, we know how to give support, comfort, and compassion to the people who need us. But how many of us offer that same level of compassion and care to ourselves? Whether caring for family members or professional clients, if caring just goes one way - out, but not in - you will eventually become drained and depleted. Self-compassion is crucial for caregivers because it allows us to resource ourselves so that we can sustain giving to others without burning out.

This workshop will present theory and research on the key role that self-compassion plays for caregivers. A variety of practices will be taught that can help individuals maintain equilibrium in difficult caregiving situations. We will also explore how to meet our needs in a balanced and fulfilling manner.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the main components of self-compassion
• Distinguish between empathy fatigue and compassion fatigue
• Identify the link between self-compassion, stress, and burnout
• Apply self-compassion in caregiving contexts

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

MSC Intensive for Caregivers: Loving Others Without Losing Ourselves

Early Bird Pricing End July 7th

Join us July 20–25, 2025 in Big Bear, California for a special 5-day, in-person retreat based on the empirically-supported Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program—designed specifically for caregivers.

This immersive training explores how to care deeply for others without losing ourselves in the process. Through meditation, group discussion, and experiential practices, participants will build self-compassion and mindfulness skills to navigate caregiver stress, reduce isolation, and find renewed strength and presence.

Open to all caregivers—personal, professional, or planetary—this retreat is a reminder: you are worthy of care, too.

Celebrate International Self-Compassion Day

Mark your calendar for International Self-Compassion Day (ISCD) on Saturday, July 19, 2025! Created by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion in 2024, ISCD celebrates the proven power of self-compassion and honors the strengths, challenges, and common humanity that connect us across cultures and continents. Now in its second year, ISCD invites people of all backgrounds to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the healing practice of self-kindness. However you choose to participate—through rest, reflection, or reaching out in community—your self-compassion helps ease suffering and foster well-being for yourself and those around you.
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​Explore free ISCD resources and celebration ideas to plan how you can participate and share with your family, friends, co-workers, organization, or community.

Circles of Practice - Free Online Daily Meditations

Our MSC Circles of Practice program is a donation-based offering to our community and the public. CMSC offers 100 monthly free online daily practice sessions, all led by volunteer MSC teachers and supported by donations.These self-compassion meditation sessions are available on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Click on the links below to learn more and register for a session.

​Raphael Jay Adjani will also be leading a Free CMSC Circles of Practice LGBTQ+ “Pride Sanctuary One Hour Mini-Retreat” June 16th, 6-7 pm PT.​

Join a session today:​

• MSC Graduates (7x weekly) | Register​
• General Public (2x daily, open to all) | Register​
• LGBTQI2S+ Affinity Circle (2x monthly) | Register​
• BIPOC Affinity Group (weekly) | Register​
• Hispanohablantes / Spanish speakers (weekly) | Register​
• Men’s Practice (monthly) | Register​
• SCHC Alumni Group (monthly | Register​

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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.

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