SELF-COMPASSION AND SELF-WORTH

The essential value of Self-Compassion, or ‘befriending ourselves in difficult times’, has been widely recognised across the Buddhist and the academic/secular/therapeutic worlds alike (see, for example, the work by Sharon Salzberg, Kristin Neff and Chris Germer). As counter-intuitive as it may seem, in our apparently individualistic society, we have a very hard time letting go of our faults or perceived failures, thus adding painful strategies such as resistance or denial, and feelings like failure and worthlessness, to an already difficult moment.

Curiously, it is told that when a group of Western Mindfulness practitioners paid a visit to the Dalai Lama and asked him how to deal with people’s sense of unworthiness, the great Master was shocked – why shouldn’t one love oneself?

This very common feature in the contemporary world has been at the core of John Niland’s Self-Worth Safari, which has led to the foundation of the Self-Worth Academy and to his upcoming book on this subject, providing essential insights – such as the importance of drawing a line between self-esteem and self-worth and of underlining the unconditional nature of the latter.

The Mindful Cloud has followed the Safari all along, becoming one of the first Academy’s Associates and contributing to its first steps, while integrating this approach in the general Mindfulness offer.

Find out about current and upcoming events.
Read my blog on the Self-Worth Academy’s website.

‘Every time you judge yourself, you break your own heart.’
Swami Kripalvanandji