A Two-Day Intensive for the Brain, Body, and Heart
Is your inner critic the loudest voice in your mind? Do you find yourself dwelling on your shortcomings far more than your successes? Is it easier for you to extend kindness and forgiveness to others than to yourself?
If so, you’re not alone. Even after years of spiritual practice, self-improvement, or therapy, many of us still find self-acceptance to be the hardest challenge we face.
But there is a solution.
With Self-Acceptance: A Two-Day Intensive for the Brain, Body, and Heart, you’re invited to a weekend dedicated to helping you cultivate this essential quality for happiness and success. Hosted by Sounds True founder Tami Simon, this experiential workshop features two of today’s leading experts in this emerging area of study, Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Kelly McGonigal. Come together in a beautiful seaside setting to explore the latest scientific research on self-acceptance—and learn transformative practices for treating yourself with kindness, honesty, and love.
DAY ONE
Self-Compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself with Dr. Kristin Neff
With her breakout book Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, Dr. Kristin Neff shared the surprising findings of 15 years of research into the critical area of how we relate to ourselves. Perhaps her most valuable discovery was to define a clear difference between self-esteem and self-compassion. As Dr. Neff explains, “Many of our attempts to build self-esteem involve comparing ourselves to others—and can reinforce unwanted traits such as narcissism, a judgmental outlook, and deep insecurity.”
How is self-compassion different?
“Self-compassion involves treating ourselves kindly,” says Dr. Neff, “like we would a close friend we cared about. Rather than making global evaluations of ourselves as ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ self-compassion involves generating kindness toward ourselves as imperfect humans, and learning to be present with the inevitable struggles of life with greater ease.”
In this our first day together, Dr. Neff will spend the morning presenting theory and research on self-compassion, which a growing body of empirical literature has shown to be powerfully associated with psychological resilience. Here you’ll learn:
In the late afternoon, Tami and Dr. Kristin Neff engage in a conversation about everything we’ve learned and practiced over the course of the day. After their initial discussion, we’ll open the floor to your questions, so you can clarify your understanding of anything you found confusing and share your own experiences.
DAY TWO
Self-Compassion in the Brain and Body with Dr. Kelly McGonigal
In her acclaimed book The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It, health psychologist and Stanford lecturer Dr. Kelly McGonigal revealed eye-opening evidence that self-forgiveness and self-compassion actually boost our willpower and discipline.
“I think the absolute basis of any type of change is self-compassion,” says Dr. McGonigal. “But that is not where most of us start. Most of us feel there is something fundamentally wrong or broken with who we are, and we look for some sort of strength inside of ourselves to correct, or fix, or even punish that part of ourselves. That almost always backfires.”
In the morning session of our second day, Dr. McGonigal shares the latest neuroscientific insights on self-compassion and how we can practically apply them in our lives. Together we will explore
In the late afternoon, Tami and Dr. McGonigal discuss the lessons of the weekend, then invite your responses and shared impressions in a final Q&A session.
A Life-Changing Intensive Workshop on Self-Acceptance
The latest research shows that self-acceptance is a “miracle ingredient” to many of our life challenges—and that instilling self-compassion enhances our health, happiness, relationships, and success.
Yet as much as we conceptually accept that it is best to be kind to ourselves, the real challenge comes when we try to embody such kindness, and overcome a lifetime of conditioning toward self-sabotaging patterns of thought.
Self-Acceptance: A Two-Day Intensive for the Brain, Body, and Heart is your chance to learn how to create lasting change—whether in your professional practice or your personal life. Join Dr. Kelly McGonigal, Dr. Kristin Neff, and Tami Simon for a weekend of scientific insights, practical techniques, and embodied experience to nurture the quality that can be most challenging—and most important—for creating the life we desire
Self-Acceptance: A Two-Day Intensive for the Brain, Body, and Heart will be held on-site at the beautiful Hilton Del Mar. We’re pleased to offer a special room rate for those seeking the full experience of a retreat into beauty and serenity—rooms are limited, so we recommend early reservation.
For more information visit http://soundstrue.go2cloud.org/SH6e and select "Events".
Self-Compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself with Dr. Kristin Neff
With her breakout book Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, Dr. Kristin Neff shared the surprising findings of 15 years of research into the critical area of how we relate to ourselves. Perhaps her most valuable discovery was to define a clear difference between self-esteem and self-compassion. As Dr. Neff explains, “Many of our attempts to build self-esteem involve comparing ourselves to others—and can reinforce unwanted traits such as narcissism, a judgmental outlook, and deep insecurity.”
How is self-compassion different?
“Self-compassion involves treating ourselves kindly,” says Dr. Neff, “like we would a close friend we cared about. Rather than making global evaluations of ourselves as ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ self-compassion involves generating kindness toward ourselves as imperfect humans, and learning to be present with the inevitable struggles of life with greater ease.”
In this our first day together, Dr. Neff will spend the morning presenting theory and research on self-compassion, which a growing body of empirical literature has shown to be powerfully associated with psychological resilience. Here you’ll learn:
- What distinguishes genuine self-compassion as opposed to self-esteem or selfishness
- Dispelling the myths around self-compassion, and re-examining the core beliefs that cause us to become our own worst enemy
- Self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness—the three essential elements of authentic self-compassion
- Why self-compassion is more powerful than self-criticism, and actually improves our inner drive and motivation to succeed
- Skills for using self-compassion effectively in caregiving settings and avoiding caregiver burnout
- Practical ways to integrate self-compassion in your personal and professional life
In the late afternoon, Tami and Dr. Kristin Neff engage in a conversation about everything we’ve learned and practiced over the course of the day. After their initial discussion, we’ll open the floor to your questions, so you can clarify your understanding of anything you found confusing and share your own experiences.
DAY TWO
Self-Compassion in the Brain and Body with Dr. Kelly McGonigal
In her acclaimed book The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It, health psychologist and Stanford lecturer Dr. Kelly McGonigal revealed eye-opening evidence that self-forgiveness and self-compassion actually boost our willpower and discipline.
“I think the absolute basis of any type of change is self-compassion,” says Dr. McGonigal. “But that is not where most of us start. Most of us feel there is something fundamentally wrong or broken with who we are, and we look for some sort of strength inside of ourselves to correct, or fix, or even punish that part of ourselves. That almost always backfires.”
In the morning session of our second day, Dr. McGonigal shares the latest neuroscientific insights on self-compassion and how we can practically apply them in our lives. Together we will explore
- How cultivating self-compassion can change the brain to disrupt old patterns and self-defeating habits of mind
- How our inner critical voice can draw strength from the brain’s survival instincts—and what to do about it
- Contemplative practices to instill self-acceptance and self-care
- Using nonjudgmental awareness to develop an attitude of curiosity and acceptance towards every aspect of ourselves
- Connecting to Your Future Self—an exercise scientifically demonstrated to transform negative emotions, support change, and help create a more resilient brain
In the late afternoon, Tami and Dr. McGonigal discuss the lessons of the weekend, then invite your responses and shared impressions in a final Q&A session.
A Life-Changing Intensive Workshop on Self-Acceptance
The latest research shows that self-acceptance is a “miracle ingredient” to many of our life challenges—and that instilling self-compassion enhances our health, happiness, relationships, and success.
Yet as much as we conceptually accept that it is best to be kind to ourselves, the real challenge comes when we try to embody such kindness, and overcome a lifetime of conditioning toward self-sabotaging patterns of thought.
Self-Acceptance: A Two-Day Intensive for the Brain, Body, and Heart is your chance to learn how to create lasting change—whether in your professional practice or your personal life. Join Dr. Kelly McGonigal, Dr. Kristin Neff, and Tami Simon for a weekend of scientific insights, practical techniques, and embodied experience to nurture the quality that can be most challenging—and most important—for creating the life we desire
Self-Acceptance: A Two-Day Intensive for the Brain, Body, and Heart will be held on-site at the beautiful Hilton Del Mar. We’re pleased to offer a special room rate for those seeking the full experience of a retreat into beauty and serenity—rooms are limited, so we recommend early reservation.
For more information visit http://soundstrue.go2cloud.org/SH6e and select "Events".