About Fierce Self-Compassion 8-Week Course

Welcome to the groundbreaking Fierce Self-Compassion 8-Week Course!  

This course has been created by Dr. Kristin Neff, the pioneering researcher of self-compassion and co-creator of Mindful Self-Compassion. Over eight weeks the course will draw on practices developed in her newest book Fierce Self-Compassion and will include a satisfying mix of experiential learning and science-based insights.

Most people think of self-compassion as soft and gentle, but self-compassion can be fierce as well as tender. Tender self-compassion involves “being with” ourselves in an accepting way: comforting ourselves, reassuring ourselves that we aren’t alone, and being present with our pain. 

Fierce Self-Compassion includes:

• Taking action in the world to protect, provide and motivate ourselves to alleviate our suffering

• Saying “no” to others who are hurting us – beginning to draw firm boundaries or fighting injustice 

• Saying "yes" to ourselves to do what’s needed to be happy rather than always subordinating our needs to those of others

• Giving ourselves what we genuinely need – mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually – so we can  be authentic and fulfilled

Throughout the program we will discover that in order to be truly self-compassionate – in order to be whole – we need to integrate both versions of self-compassion, the tender and the fierce.  If we are gentle without fierceness, we risk becoming complacent or disempowered; if we are fierce without tenderness, we risk becoming hostile or selfish. Like a tree with a solid trunk and flexible branches, we need to stand strong while still embracing others as part of an interdependent whole. We need love in our hearts so we don’t perpetuate harm, but we need fierceness in our belly to stand up to harm.

Course Objectives:

• Describe how the three key components of self-compassion manifest when protecting ourselves, providing for our needs, and motivating change

• Begin to recognize and transcend the blocks to drawing effective boundaries 

• Learn to work with and harness your anger as a constructive support 

• Identify your needs and give yourself permission to meet them

• Develop skills to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism

• Understand how fierce self-compassion can be utilized for social change