Mindful Self-compassion Workshops Offered in October
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 9, 2020) — Many of us struggle with thoughts and feelings that we are failing, not doing enough, falling behind or letting ourselves or others down. Kindness and compassion for ourselves and others is needed more than ever — amid a global pandemic, events of racial injustice and the challenges faced from learning new ways of working, parenting and living our daily lives.
University of Kentucky's Eric Wilkinson, a Work+Life Connections therapist, and Jackie Hanson, a health coach and wellness specialist, are teaming up to offer four October workshops on mindful self-compassion inspired by the works of psychologists Kristin Neff, Chris Germer and Tara Brach.
Research shows self-compassion increases life satisfaction, happiness, self-confidence, body appreciation, resiliency and immune function. Self-compassion decreases anxiety, depression, stress, perfectionism and shame.
Mindful self-compassion can help reconnect us to our common humanity and inner goodness, release us from the inner dread and self-critiques perpetuated by our minds and habits and generate warmth toward ourselves and the world. Additionally, mindful self-compassion helps us access our innate goodness and power to hold and release difficult experiences and emotions.
The four-session workshop on mindful self-compassion is free to the UK community. It will take place from 2-3 p.m. via Zoom, on Oct. 9, 16, 23 and 30. Community members are welcome to participate even if they cannot attend all four sessions.
Registration is required and can be completed here.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.