The Self-Compassion Skills Workbook: A 14-Day Plan to Transform Your Relationship with Yourself

by Tim Desmond LMFT

Overview

Step by step, learn powerful mindfulness-based techniques to feel happier and more alive.

Do you struggle with stress or negativity? Learn how self-compassion can help you find greater health, peace, emotional stability, and joy. Cutting-edge research shows that self-compassion is not only a skill anyone can strengthen through practice but also one of the strongest predictors of mental health and wellness. The practices in this book have been specially formulated to target and fortify what neuroscientists call the “care circuit” of the brain.

Devoting thirty minutes a day for just fourteen days to these simple practices can have life-changing results. Tim Desmond’s “Map to Self-Compassion” will engage your mind, heart, and spirit. It will improve your ability to motivate yourself with kindness; regulate and defuse intense emotions, anxiety, and depression; be resilient during life’s challenges; let go of self-criticism and destructive behavior; heal painful experiences; and be more present and compassionate with others. Experience the benefits firsthand! Features downloadable audio recordings for on-the-go practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393712186
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	05/09/2017
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	457,880
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Tim Desmond, LMFT, a Buddhist scholar, therapist, author, and mindfulness trainer in Alstead, New Hampshire, was ordained into the Order of Interbeing by Thich Nhat Hanh in 2005. His groundbreaking work in self-compassion and mindfulness has been featured widely in global media. He is also a Distinguished Faculty at Antioch University, New England and founder of Peer Collective, a service whose mission is to radically improve access to mental health support through online peer counseling.

Table of Contents

How to Use This Workbook ix

Part I Introduction to Self-Compassion 1

1 What is Self-Compassion? 3

2 Self-Compassion Is a Skill 13

3 What Self-Compassion Looks Like: Vignettes and Exercises 17

Part II The Map to Self-Compassion: Step-by-Step Guided Training Sessions 31

4 Navigating the Map: Finding the Right Practice for You 33

5 The Practices 45

Practice 1 The Self-Compassion Body Scan 47

Practice 2 Self-Acceptance 51

Practice 3 Embracing Suffering 61

Practice 4 Healing Pain From the Past 69

Practice 5 Going Deeper 75

Practice 6 When Compassion Is Difficult 87

Practice 7 Natural Compassion 99

Practice 8 Cultivating Joy 109

Part III Maintenance: Living Self-Compassionately 119

6 Everyday Practice: Peace Is Every Step 121

7 Physical Self-Care 129

8 Compassion and Self-Compassion in Relationships 137

Reflection Journal 145

Ongoing Practice Journal: Day 15 and Beyond 151

Notes 161

Acknowledgments 163

Index 165

About the Author 175

Editorial Reviews

"We may have been taught that self-compassion is indulgent, even lazy, but in reality it is our most powerful and effective means to make a change in our lives, get better at something, change a bad habit, and just be happier. In this clear and accessible workbook, Tim Desmond beautifully guides us in how to experience and understand the power of self-compassion for ourselves."

Sharon Salzberg

"In this elegant workbook, Tim Desmond offers a clear map for anyone who wishes to begin learning self-compassion. Self-compassion is an important, personal skill that allows us to live our lives more fully, especially when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate. With a user-friendly 'Map' and simple guided meditations, this book engages and supports readers on a potentially life-changing journey of self-discovery and self-kindness."

Christopher Germer

"With its engaging discussions and powerful techniques, anyone who wants to know how to get to a point of more happiness and life satisfaction will find [The Self-Compassion Skills Workbook] both accessible and satisfyingly specific. Very highly recommended!"

Midwest Book Review