Dear Friends,

September invites transition. The light shifts, school resumes, and the rhythm of life clicks back into a different gear after the looseness of summer. Whether we welcome this change or feel resistant to it, transition always stirs something. Sometimes excitement. Sometimes grief. Often both.

In a world that asks us to lead at full throttle, to perform, to produce, and to be exceptional at all times, it’s easy to forget that we are already leading. We lead in our families, in our friendships, in our workplaces, and within ourselves. Leadership isn’t just about titles or visibility. It is about how we show up. With presence. With intention. With care. And perhaps more than ever, leadership today is asking not just for excellence, but for humanity.

That means respecting limits. Our own and those of others. It means making space to rest, to not know, to get it wrong, and begin again. It means learning to lead with courage, with candor, and with softness.

At CMSC this September, we are centering the kind of leadership that begins within. The kind that honors our wholeness, not just what we accomplish. We are sharing resources and workshops to support you through whatever transitions you are facing. Whether they are monumental or quiet, we are here to walk with you through them with steadiness, care, and community.

Because how we care for ourselves shapes how we care for others. And when we treat ourselves with kindness, we grow the capacity to lead lives and communities rooted in compassion.

With warmth and appreciation,

Elijah Zimmerman (he/they)​
​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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Exploring Self-Compassion in Virtual Nature

Access to nature has long been linked to reduced stress, greater mindfulness, and increased self-compassion—but what happens when nature is experienced virtually? A new pilot study published in Scientific Reports tested the effects of virtual exposure to a forest compared with a city environment.

The findings were striking: participants in the virtual forest showed increased self-compassion and decreased self-criticism, while those in the city environment experienced higher stress and lower compassion. These results suggest that even when accessed through technology, nature may nurture the mind and heart—offering new possibilities for those who may not have easy access to the outdoors.

This growing body of research underscores what many in our community already know: self-compassion flourishes in environments that support calm, mindfulness, and safety—whether those environments are real or virtual.

Meditation: Soft-Landing for Grounding and Settling Yourself with Natalie Bell

Join Certified MSC Teacher Natalie Bell for a gentle Soft Landing meditation — an opportunity to pause, settle, and reconnect with yourself through mindfulness and self-compassion. This practice was first recorded during the 2025 Mid-Year Renewal Retreat: “Standing Strong, Staying Kind, Finding Joy in Uncertain Times.” Take a few moments to soften, breathe, and arrive fully in the present moment.

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Continue this path of self-compassion with Natalie and join one of the upcoming 8-week courses she's co-teaching: Fierce Self-Compassion and Self-Compassion for Shame (see below).
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Self-Compassion for Leaders to Manage Burnout (Prevention) Workshop with Michael Merks

Thursday, September 25th, 2025
Live Online 9 - 11 am PST

Leadership today is more demanding than ever—global crises, rapid change, and limited resources leave leaders carrying heavy responsibility with little room to pause. The result? Rising stress, declining appreciation, and burnout.

This workshop offers a powerful antidote. Grounded in research and practice, it introduces self-compassion as a practical tool for resilience, clarity, and sustainable leadership. Far from a weakness, self-compassion is a courageous stance that helps leaders stay effective while protecting their well-being.

In this workshop, you will:

• Understand the science of burnout and self-compassion
• Discover how self-compassion reduces stress and builds resilience
• Identify your own stress triggers and risk factors
• Learn and practice self-compassion skills you can apply immediately

Join us to nourish your leadership with tools that strengthen both you and those you lead.

Fierce Self-Compassion 8-Week Course with Natalie Bell & Heather Shaughnessy-Cato

Thursdays, September 25 - November 20, 2025
Live Online 9:00–11:30 am PT

Self-Compassion isn’t only about tenderness and care—it’s also about courage, clarity, and strength. This September, join us for an 8-week live online course in Fierce Self-Compassion, led by Certified MSC Teachers Natalie Bell and Heather Shaughnessy-Cato.

Starting Thursday, September 25, 9:00–11:30 am PT, this empowering course invites you to expand your self-compassion practice beyond nurturing kindness to its action-oriented counterpart: Fierce Self-Compassion.

Throughout the course, you’ll learn to:

• Protect and motivate yourself with both strength and kindness.
• Set healthier boundaries—inwardly and outwardly.
• Say “no” to harmful behaviors and reclaim your power.
• Provide yourself with what you genuinely need—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Why Fierce Self-Compassion?
​Since the publication of Kristin Neff’s groundbreaking book Self-Compassion, many have embraced the tender side of this practice—“being with” ourselves in moments of struggle. Fierce Self-Compassion takes the next step: transforming care into empowered action so you can thrive with confidence and integrity.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen your boundaries, find your voice, or lead with greater courage, this course will guide you to balance tenderness with fierceness in a way that sustains your well-being.

Course Details

• When: Thursdays, Sept 25 – Nov 20, 9:00–11:30 am PT
• Cost: $595

Special Offer: Use code MSCEARLYGRAD to save $100! (Refunds not available for missed codes.)

Art as a Pathway to Mindful Self-Compassion:
Integrating Creativity and Compassion Practices

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Live Online 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PT
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Cost: $95

Compassion and artistic expression are innate abilities within all of us that can strengthen our capacity for healing, transformation and accessing joy. In this workshop we will create and use art as a complimentary pathway to integrate Mindful Self-Compassion practices.

Self-Compassion for Shame 8-Week Course

Tuesdays, October 28 - December 23, 2025 (skip Nov 25)​
Live Online 9:00 am-11:30 am PT

Cost: $695 Use the code MSCEARLYGRAD to save $100!
​​​Missed Discounts: Refunds will not be given for missed coupon codes or discounts.

Welcome to this groundbreaking program developed by Dr. Chris Germer and the SC-Shame development team! In this course, we’ll take a unique, non-pathological look at shame through the eyes of self-compassion and discover how self-compassion is the antidote to shame.

Special topics include how to use self-compassion to work with:

• Mindfulness of Shame
• Origins of Shame
• Self-criticism
• Body shame
• Self-forgiveness
• Hidden Parts
• Social justice

Prior participants of the SC-Shame 8-wk course reported:

• 96% would recommend the course
• 96% said their experience of shame changed as a result of the course
• 89% would consider taking the course again
• 85% had better mental and emotional wellbeing after the course

Prerequisite for registration: completion of 8-wk or 10-wk Mindful Self-Compassion Course or the 5-Day Intensive MSC Course. Must be over the age of 18 yrs old.

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

Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy (SCIP) Training Pathway 2026 Applications Open​

The SCIP pathway supports psychotherapists in deepening their personal and professional integration of self-compassion through a progressive, experiential process.

Bringing self-compassion to the heart of therapy, SCIP offers training and support for psychotherapists that helps them embody self-compassion in their self-care and integrate it into their clinical practice.

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.

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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