Dear Friends,
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Many of us care deeply about what is happening around us, and are asking how we can care deeply without becoming overwhelmed, exhausted, or discouraged. We hear daily from people who want to make a difference in their families, communities, workplaces, and the world, yet find themselves struggling to balance compassion for others with care for themselves.
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​At the heart of this is an important question:

At the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, we believe self-compassion has an important role to play in helping us meet these challenging moments with greater steadiness, courage, and connection. Caring for ourselves is not separate from caring for others. It can help give us the inner resources to stay present, remain engaged, and respond in ways that are sustainable and aligned with what matters most to us.
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​We believe that caring is not a weakness. Compassion is a capacity we can cultivate and a practice we can strengthen. And above all, caring takes courage.

You’ll see that theme reflected in several of the opportunities we’re sharing this month, including The Courage to Care: Compassion for Ourselves & Our World, our October 10 World Mental Health Day masterclass and fundraiser. With an opening welcome and meditation from CMSC Co-Founders Chris Germer and Kristin Neff, and teachings from neuropsychologist Rick Hanson, mindfulness expert Chris Willard, and CMSC Education Director Lisa Baylis, we’ll explore how compassion can support us personally while also strengthening our capacity to connect, engage, and act on what we care about.

Whether you join us for this event or connect with CMSC in another way, we’re grateful to have you as part of a community committed to bringing greater compassion into our lives and into the world.

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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Meditation: Self-Compassion Break for Shame with Chris Germer

Take a few moments to pause and reconnect with yourself through this gentle Self-Compassion Break for Shame meditation led by Chris Germer. Designed to help you meet moments of shame with mindfulness, kindness, and self-compassion, this practice offers a supportive space to remember your inherent worth and humanity.

​Join Chris as he co-leads our next 8-Week Self-Compassion for Shame course with Laila Narsi which begins October 21st.

This meditation is adapted from Chris Germer’s new book, Self-Compassion for Shame, published by Guilford Press, which offers practical tools for transforming shame through the healing power of self-compassion.

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Research: Empathy as the Critical Link Between Self-Compassion and Social Dominance Orientation

We're excited to share new research published in the journal Mindfulness that explores an important question: How does self-compassion influence the way we relate to people from different social groups? The study, “Empathy as the Critical Link Between Self-Compassion and Social Attitudes,” found that empathy may be a key mechanism connecting self-compassion with more positive social attitudes and greater concern for others.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that self-compassion is not only beneficial for personal well-being, but may also help foster understanding, connection, and compassion in our broader communities. For practitioners, teachers, and anyone interested in creating a more caring world, this research offers an encouraging reminder that the way we relate to ourselves can influence how we relate to others.

The Courage to Care: Compassion for Ourselves & Our World

Saturday, October 10 | World Mental Health Day | Live Online
9:00 am - 12:00 pm PT

In listening to our community, we recognized a need for deeper support around how we care—for ourselves, for one another, and for the world around us. In collaboration with leading voices in self-compassion, we created a new opportunity to explore that question: The Courage to Care Masterclass.
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Rather than asking simply, “How do we care more?” this masterclass explores a deeper question: How do we cultivate the courage to care in ways that are sustainable, authentic, and life-giving?

What makes this experience distinctive is its foundation in decades of research, lived experience, and evidence-based approaches to compassion and self-compassion. You’ll hear from leading experts in neuropsychology, mindfulness, compassion, and leadership including Rick Hanson, Chris Willard, and Lisa Baylis, welcomed by CMSC Co-Founders Chris Germer and Kristin Neff. They will explore how we care for ourselves, stay connected to others, and strengthen our capacity to respond courageously and collectively to the moments and challenges that matter most.​
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More than a workshop or course, this masterclass is also a fundraiser supporting the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion’s mission. All of our speakers have generously donated their time, allowing more of the proceeds to support CMSC’s work to make self-compassion more accessible worldwide.

Join The Courage to Care Masterclass and help support the future of this important work.

Self-Compassion for Shame 8-Week Course with Chris Germer and Laila Narsi

Shame can make us feel isolated, stuck, or somehow "less than," even though it is one of the most universal human experiences. What if, instead of turning against ourselves in moments of shame, we could learn to respond with understanding, courage, and compassion?

Join us for Self-Compassion for Shame, an 8-week live online course developed by Chris Germer and a team of senior Mindful Self-Compassion teachers. This transformative program explores shame through the lens of self-compassion, offering practical tools to help you soften self-criticism, cultivate emotional resilience, and build a more accepting relationship with yourself. ​

Through teaching, guided meditation, experiential exercises, discussion, and supportive practice groups, you'll learn how self-compassion can help you meet shame with greater awareness, courage, and care. Together, we'll explore the roots of shame, understand its impact on our lives, and discover how compassion can help us reconnect with ourselves and others. ​

Course Details

• Dates: Begins October 21, 2026 and runs for 8 weeks
• Schedule: Wednesdays, 9:00-11:30 AM PT
• Format: Live Online

This course is designed for those who have already completed an 8-week or 10-week Mindful Self-Compassion course or the 5-Day Intensive MSC program and are ready to deepen their practice in the company of a supportive community.

As therapists and mental health professionals, we spend our days offering compassion, presence, and care to others. Yet when we encounter our own struggles, many of us find it much harder to extend that same kindness inward. What if self-compassion could become a reliable resource not only for personal well-being, but also for deepening our therapeutic presence and effectiveness?

Join Dr. Shari Geller and Camilla Graziani for Live Online Mindful Self-Compassion (LOMSC) for Therapists, a transformative 10-week program designed specifically for clinicians and helping professionals. Participants will learn evidence-based self-compassion practices that support resilience, reduce burnout, strengthen emotional balance, and enhance the capacity to be fully present with clients.

Course Details

• Starts: October 14, 2026
• Schedule: Wednesdays, 4:00-6:00 PM PT
• Format: Live Online

More Opportunities to Learn in Community​
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Register

Register

​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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Join the Board of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion

The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (CMSC) is seeking new members to join our Board of Directors and help guide the next stage of our development and global impact.

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.