Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living

Service Description

What is Mindful Compassion? Practicing mindfulness supports us to be aware of our moment-by-moment experience. But how do we deal with moments which are especially difficult and painful? Many of us now carry the added strain of climate change, global uncertainty, and a constant stream of distressing news. Mindful compassion helps us meet these times with heartfulness, staying on our own side while respecting the needs of others, and of the wider world we are part of. Compassion is a sensitivity to pain and suffering, in ourselves, others, and the wider world, paired with a genuine commitment to relieve and prevent it. Seeing suffering clearly is only half of compassion. The other half is the motivation to act, even in small ways, even when the scale of what we face feels overwhelming. Mindfulness helps us hold both halves in balance, so we can regulate ourselves and stay responsive, rather than shutting down or burning out. This capacity is one the Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living (MBCL) programme can support you to nurture and grow. What is MBCL, and who is it for? MBCL was developed by Erik van den Brink and Frits Koster for those seeking healthy ways to deal with pain, stress, and suffering. It cultivates compassion for ourselves, others, and the wider world, drawing on research and the work of experts in compassion and mindfulness. MBCL is a follow-on course for those who have completed an eight-week course such as MBSR or MBCT, or who have their own regular meditation practice of a year or more. We meet online, for convenience, accessibility, and to keep our collective carbon footprint to a minimum. Nature is woven through the course and home practices, via imagery, metaphor, and guided practice, bringing a felt connection to the natural world wherever you are. What are the Benefits of MBCL? If you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of our modern world, including climate change and the wider global situation, you are not alone. Stress, anxiety, depression and burnout are increasingly common, alongside a quiet grief many of us carry for the state of the world. Mindful Compassion offers practical, science-based ways to: 💚 Regulate ourselves in the face of stress, uncertainty, and overwhelm 💚 Deal more wisely and kindly with life's inevitable difficulties 💚 Balance caring for ourselves, others, and the wider world 💚 Move from overwhelm towards compassionate, discerning action 💚 Cultivate kindness, happiness, health and harmony