Self-Compassion: The Power of Being Kind to Ourselves

Bob Horowitz, MD, Guest Speaker

Self-compassion is being kind to yourself as you would be with your closest friends or loved ones, especially when you're stressed or upset. For many of us, it doesn’t come as easily as we might expect. Being hard on ourselves may seem necessary to succeed in life, but research suggests just the opposite: self-compassion is a productive and healthier way to relate to ourselves than harsh self-criticism. Self-compassion has been linked to many benefits, including greater happiness, more satisfying relationships, and less anxiety and depression. For students of Zen, self-compassion can support our practice and help us relax into our authentic selves.

In this presentation, we'll explore the core principles of self-compassion and do some exercises to get a taste of self-compassion first hand. Hope you can join us!

This talk will follow 30 minutes of meditation.

About Bob

Bob is a retired primary care physician and a longtime meditator. He has been practicing Zen in the Soto and Korean traditions since the 1970s and has been studying Tibetan Buddhism with the Natural Dharma Fellowship in recent years. He is fascinated by the science and practice of compassion and has been teaching self-compassion to healthcare providers and the general public. Bob practiced internal medicine at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for many years and is passionate about working with underserved populations. He loves hiking with his wife, playing the piano, and being delighted by their four black cats.