Kathryn Lovewell
on Self-Compassion and
the Benefits of Deep Practice
Listen:
Show Notes:
It’s one thing to have a conceptual understanding of self-compassion. But truly living and breathing self-compassion requires practice. So, what does it look like to apply the principles in our daily life? And how might the retreat experience support us in making mindful self-compassion a part of who we are and how we live?
In this episode, Kathryn Lovewell joins Kate and Alex to discuss what it looks like to apply the principles of self-compassion in daily life, describing how the resistance to rest shows up and what we can do to overcome it. She explains how our bodies are easily forgotten when our minds are filled with chatter and shares the consequences she suffered from neglecting her own self-care. Listen in for Kathryn’s insight on the benefit of the self-compassion retreat experience and learn how immersing yourself in mindful self-compassion is not self-indulgent—but a true gift to the people you love and lead.
About Kathryn:
Kathryn Lovewell is an award-winning Emotional Health and Well-Being Specialist. She is a dedicated Mindful Self-Compassion Certified Teacher, Speaker, Trainer and Senior Journey™ Therapist who has been teaching meditation and self-inquiry since 2006. Kathryn is the founder of Kind Mind Academy and best-selling author of The Little Book of Self-Compassion, Every Teacher Matters: Inspiring Well-Being Through Mindfulness and The Voices in My Head. In August, Kathryn is leading a five-day online silent retreat, Embracing Self-Compassion with Mindfulness, with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.
For over fifteen years she has combined meditation, mindful awareness, therapeutic practices and positive psychology to create personal and professional development programmes for individuals, schools and prison education, in the UK, USA & Australia. She continues to deepen her self-development and personal self-compassion practice through voluntary service with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and provides consistent support for Graduates to sustain their practice. Kathryn fervently believes that Mindful Self-Compassion, acts of loving kindness and being a contribution to the world are pivotal to mind-health, wellbeing and happiness. Her mission is to bring peace and joy to hearts across the globe by inspiring mindful self-compassion, self-care and loving self-kindness in everyday life.
Connect with Kathryn:
Key Takeaways:
- Kathryn’s passion for making self-compassion accessible to the everyday person
- What it looks like to apply the principles of self-compassion in your real life
- How self-compassion offers a way of accepting our imperfections as opposed to fixing us
- The challenge of including self-care on our list of priorities (and the consequences when we don’t)
- How the resistance to rest shows up and Kathryn’s advice on how to overcome it
- How our bodies are easily forgotten when our minds are filled with chatter
- The fear that keeps us away from stillness and what we do to avoid it
- How the retreat experience allows us to turn inward and invites us to meet our own needs
- The guided meditation and movement practices offered at Kathryn’s silent retreat
- Why a self-compassion retreat is a gift to our families, friends and colleagues
Resources Mentioned:
- Kathryn on Noble Mind Episode 29
- The Little Book of Self-Compassion: Learn to Be Your Own Best Friend by Kathryn Lovewell
- Every Teacher Matters: Inspiring Well-Being Through Mindfulness by Kathryn Lovewell
- The Voices in My Head by Kathryn Lovewell
- The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion
- Dr. Kristin Neff
- Dr. Chris Germer
- MSC Training
- Dr. Steven Hickman
Recent Past Episodes:
Hosts:
Katherine King, PsyD
Katherine King, PsyD is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at William James College. She was trained in evidence-based treatments within the Veterans’ Administration and has a private practice specializing in geropsychology. She is also a member of the Boston Shambhala Center Board of Directors, a vajrayana student of Buddhism, and has practiced meditation for over 20 years. Learn more about Kate at www.drkateking.com.
Alex Gokce, MSW
Alex Gokce, MSW has a master’s degree in social work from Salem State University and an undergraduate degree in Comparative Government from Harvard University. He has led psychotherapy groups on topics including mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mind-body approaches to pain management. He has co-led programs at the Boston Shambhala Center on the topics of trauma and self-compassion. His personal and professional interests center around the individual, societal and intergenerational impacts of trauma, as well as the sociocultural roots of interpersonal harm.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information shared in this podcast is strictly for educational purposes only, and is not intended as psychological treatment or consultation of any kind.
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