Greater Good - The Science of a Meaningful Life

This day-long seminar will offer strategies for cultivating self-compassion and reducing stress in yourself and others. It will be led by Dr. Kristin Neff, a pioneer in the study of self-compassion.

Self-compassion is a skill that can be learned by anyone. It involves generating feelings of kindness and care toward ourselves as imperfect human beings, and learning to be present with greater ease during life’s inevitable struggles. It is an antidote to harsh self-criticism, making us feel connected to others when we suffer, rather than feeling isolated and alienated. Unlike self-esteem, the good feelings of self-compassion do not depend on being special and better than other people; instead, they come from caring about ourselves and embracing our commonalities.

A large and growing body of research, much of it conducted by Dr. Neff, suggests that self-compassion reduces anxiety, makes us more resilient in the face of challenges, and improves overall mental health.

Drawing on a decade of her trailblazing research, Dr. Neff will provide simple tools for giving ourselves the support we need whenever we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate. She will provide an introductory overview of self-compassion, weaving together lecture, scientific research, video presentations, small group exercises, and discussion. Her seminar will offer valuable resources for mental health professionals, but her emphasis on personal practice makes this seminar appropriate for the general public as well. For more background about Dr. Neff’s work on self-compassion, check out her Greater Good essay, “Why Self-Compassion Trumps Self-Esteem.”

This event will be webcast live! Attend in-person or online.

With the webcast, you’ll watch real-time video of the event, including slides, be able to submit questions to the presenter online, and receive CE credits—all from the comfort of your home, office, or anywhere with an Internet connection. You must have a hard-wired connection to the Internet. You will be emailed prior to the event with course materials and a login and password for the webcast.

*Attendees can receive 6 CE credit hours for attending in-person or online.*

Workshop Topics:

• Self-compassion involves generating feelings of kindness and care toward ourselves
• Self-compassion reduces anxiety, making us more resilient in the face of challenges
• Self-compassion motivates us to make positive changes in our lives not out of self-judgment, self-criticism and comparison with others, but out of caring for ourselves as we would a loved one
• Research suggests that self-compassion offers all the benefits of self-esteem without the drawbacks
• Self-compassion can be acquired through simple tools to give ourselves the support we need whenever we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate
• Research suggests that self-compassion is not a fixed trait; it’s a skill that can be learned by anyone and cultivated with practice

Agenda
(All sessions led by Kristin Neff)

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. - Registration and check in
9:00 - 10:30 - Self-compassion and well-being
10:30 - 10:45 - Break
10:45 - 12:00 - How to practice mindfulness, loving-kindness, and self-compassion
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch (on your own)
1:00 - 2:30 - Using self-compassion for motivation and managing difficult emotions
2:30 - 2:45 - Break
2:25 - 4:30 - Self-compassion, positive emotions, and happiness

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the three key components of self-compassion
• Understand the difference between self-compassion and self-esteem
• Describe key research that highlights the benefits of self-compassion
• Practice techniques to increase self-compassion in oneself and others
• Develop self-motivation using kindness rather than self-criticism

Continuing Education:
This seminar is approved for 6 CE hours. 
Course approval for Psychologists, Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors and Nurses. More details on continuing education here.
Continuing Education is co-sponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars.

Presented by the Greater Good Science Center
Co-sponsored by the International House at UC Berkeley

The Science of a Meaningful Life seminar series is made possible through a generous grant from the Quality of Life Foundation.

Register now!