Dear CMSC Community,​
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As we move through the changing seasons, I'm reminded that growth rarely happens in a straight line. Nature doesn't rush its transitions, and neither do we. The shifts in our lives, whether anticipated or unexpected, often ask us to adapt, let go, begin again, and find steady ground amidst uncertainty.

One of the gifts of being part of the CMSC community is knowing that we don't have to navigate these changes alone. The practice of mindful self-compassion offers a reliable companion through life's inevitable ups and downs. It doesn't remove our challenges, but it helps us meet them with greater kindness, courage, and wisdom. In my own life, I've found myself returning again and again to these practices during difficult moments, drawing on self-compassion as a source of stability when circumstances feel uncertain or overwhelming.

As we enter this season of reflection and renewal, I'm deeply grateful for the teachings, practices, and community that continue to sustain us. I'm grateful for each of you who show up with openness and courage, willing to practice being human together. The path of self-compassion isn't about achieving perfection; it's about learning to accompany ourselves with care through every season of life.

Thank you for being part of our community. May the resources in this month's newsletter support your ongoing journey of growth, resilience, and self-compassion.

With warmth and gratitude,
​Michael Reved​
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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Meditation: A Moment of Gratitude with Kristin Neff

As we move into November, we invite you to take a few moments to appreciate what is good in your life, including the goodness within yourself.

Begin with Gratitude: An 11-Minute Meditation with Kristin Neff

In this gentle guided practice, CMSC Co-Founder Kristin Neff invites us to breathe gratitude inward, appreciating our own qualities and the gift of being alive, and outward, honoring the people, experiences, and circumstances that enrich our lives.

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Share Your Gratitude on Our Community Gratitude Wall

What are you grateful for today? A person, a moment of kindness, a small pleasure, or perhaps something you appreciate about yourself?

We invite you to add a few words, a photo, or a reflection to our CMSC Community Gratitude Wall. You can also visit simply to enjoy the reflections shared by others.

Together, let's continue to create a growing expression of gratitude and connection across our global self-compassion community.

NEW FORMAT! Self-Compassion for Shame: Practical Skills for Emotional Wellbeing

with Chris Germer & Carolina Bautista-Vélez

Sunday, November 8, 2026 | 10:00 am–4:00 pm PT

Live Online or In-Person at Spirit Rock Meditation Center

If you've been wanting to deepen your understanding of shame and how self-compassion can help, but haven't had the opportunity to attend one of Chris Germer's previous Self-Compassion for Shame workshops or eight-week courses, we have a new opportunity for you. Explore this important work in a one-day format featuring five hours of teaching and practice, plus a one-hour lunch break.

Join Chris Germer and Carolina Bautista-Vélez for this special workshop and fundraiser benefiting both CMSC and Spirit Rock Meditation Center. A recording will be available for those unable to attend live.

5-Day Live Online Silent Retreat

November 11-16, 2026 | With Noriko Morita Harth and Carolina Bautista‑Velez

As the seasons shift and life continues to change in expected and unexpected ways, this five-day silent retreat offers an opportunity to pause, deepen your practice, and reconnect with what matters most. Centered on the theme "Surrendering to the Flow of Life: Cultivating Wisdom, Compassion, and Belonging," participants will explore the ever-changing nature of life and learn how to meet it with greater wisdom, compassion, and presence.

Through guided meditation, mindful self-compassion practices, gentle movement, reflection, and periods of shared silence, you'll investigate the changing experiences of body, mind, relationships, and the world around you. Rather than resisting change, you'll be invited to open to it with greater ease, tenderness, and understanding.

Writing as Self-Compassion Practice Workshop

Aimee Eckhardt and David Frederickson

November 21, 2026 | Live Online Workshop

Sometimes the most compassionate thing we can do is pause, listen deeply to ourselves, and put our experience into words.

The Writing as Self-Compassion Practice workshop explores how reflective writing can become a powerful tool for self-discovery, healing, and emotional resilience. Through guided prompts and self-compassion practices, you will learn how writing can help create space for difficult emotions, foster self-understanding, and cultivate a kinder inner voice. This workshop is designed for anyone interested in deepening their self-compassion practice, regardless of writing experience. ​

Whether you're facing a life transition, processing a challenging experience, or simply looking for new ways to connect with yourself, this workshop offers a supportive environment to explore writing as a pathway to greater self-awareness and well-being.

Featured Community Event​
Free, Live-Online Year-End Renewal Retreat

Kristin Neff, Chris Germer, Lisa Baylis, Joel Grow, Megan Prager, Ben Weinstein, Adrian Wan, and Maria Paula Jiménez

December 12, 2026 | *8:00 am - 11:00 am PT | 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm PT

As the year draws to a close, we invite you to pause, take a breath, and reconnect with what sustains you.

The CMSC Year-End Renewal Retreat is a free online gathering created as a gift to our global community. This special event offers an opportunity to step away from the busyness of the season and enter a space of reflection, self-compassion, and connection with thousands of practitioners from around the world. CMSC's Renewal Retreats are designed to help participants reconnect with their inner wisdom, strengthen their self-compassion practice, and cultivate resilience for the year ahead.

Through guided meditations, reflective practices, and teachings grounded in Mindful Self-Compassion, you'll be invited to slow down, honor your experiences from the past year, and open to moments of ease, gratitude, and renewal. Like previous CMSC Renewal Retreats, this gathering will bring together an international community united by a shared commitment to kindness, belonging, and compassionate presence. More than 5,000 people from 101 countries registered forCMSC's recent Midyear Renewal Retreat, demonstrating the profound power of practicing together across cultures and continents. ​

In-Person 5-Day Silent Retreat at Sedona Mago with Chris Germer, Susan Morgan, and Bill Morgan

March 21- 26, 2027 | Sedona, Arizona

Looking ahead to spring, we invite you to join us for a rare opportunity to step away from the demands of daily life and immerse yourself in a deeply restorative 5-Day In-Person Silent Retreat at Sedona Mago. In this 5-day retreat we will explore the heart quality of compassion. Compassion is often described as a quality of heart that “quivers” in the face of suffering. Yet it is perhaps more accurate to say that it is a whole-body attitude of heart-mind that opens to pain or disturbance and intentionally ministers to the suffering that is present.

We are delighted to welcome our beloved colleague and internationally renowned Mindful Self-Compassion teacher and CMSC co-founder, Chris Germer, PhD, who will join acclaimed meditation teachers Bill Morgan, PsyD, and Susan Morgan, CNS, for a special 5-day retreat devoted to deepening mindfulness and compassion.

Space is limited and this retreat is expected to fill quickly. We encourage interested participants to register early to secure their place.

Live Online MSC 10 Week Courses​
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Starts Today! Registrations still welcome.

Register

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.