Cultivating Mindful Compassion

A new cancer diagnosis is life-altering. Strong emotions such as fear, anxiety, and depression may be overwhelming. Mental processes go into overdrive as questions arise and information, often conflicting,  bombards us while we’re still trying to acknowledge what we just learned. New physical challenges such as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, and increased heart rate may arise and beg for attention.

So how do we keep moving forward? How do we balance what we need to do to take care of ourselves with the desire to hide under the blankets? Personally, I’ve found the practice of meditation immensely helpful. The first step to compassion starts with you.

Although I practice HeartMath daily, I found that taking Amy Pattee Colvin’s course on Cultivating Mindful Compassion helped me make a deeper dive into exploring my feelings and attitudes. Through the course, I had a few ah-ha moments where I realized my thinking needed to change. Because we met weekly for 7-weeks, I had the support I needed to implement those changes and turn them into habits.  

The program combined mindfulness, compassion, and awareness of our internal energy (qi). 

We explored methods for intentionally choosing and deepening self-appreciation, self-acceptance, and compassion for self and others. Through instruction, discussion, and use of practical techniques, we explored ways to cultivate a vibrant, authentic, and positive life.

Compassion arises from an awareness of distress in self or others, an emotional resonance with that distress, and a desire to take action to help alleviate the distress. This simple three-part model helped me enact positive change. I realized an essential part of self-care, which is self-compassion, is setting boundaries. I’ve always been the one upon whom people relied. This course helped me realize it was now my turn to ask for help, and how to feel comfortable with asking.

After the 7-week online course, I found my stress levels were lower, it was easier for me to make clear decisions, and I had new tools to help me calm down my over-active inner critic. Spending time in a course with other people sharing their life challenges, guided by a skillful facilitator, exploring answers to thought-provoking questions, provided far more depth than merely meditating on my own.

Whether you’ve received a diagnosis, or care for a loved one who has, the Cultivating Mindful Compassion course can be a tremendous asset. 

I also enjoyed being able to click a link and join a live interactive class, available to people anywhere in the world. I didn’t have to travel. I attended class from the comfort of my home.

However, if you’re feeling strong, and you love to travel, enjoy this curriculum during an international retreat. Now that I’m through my treatment, I look forward to going to Ireland with Amy next year.

If you’d like to learn more about my experience with this course and to see if it would be a good fit for you, click the button below to set up a conversation with me.  I can help point you to a variety of resources that may work best for you. Or you can contact Amy directly for more information. 

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