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The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions 1st Edition
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“Buck up.” “Stop feeling sorry for yourself.” “Don’t ruin everything.” When you are anxious, sad, angry, or lonely, do you hear this self-critical voice? What would happen if, instead of fighting difficult emotions, we accepted them? Over his decades of experience as a therapist and mindfulness meditation practitioner, Dr. Christopher Germer has learned a paradoxical lesson: We all want to avoid pain, but letting it in--and responding compassionately to our own imperfections, without judgment or self-blame--are essential steps on the path to healing. This wise and eloquent book illuminates the power of self-compassion and offers creative, scientifically grounded strategies for putting it into action. Free audio downloads of the meditation exercises are available at the author's website: www.chrisgermer.com.
See also The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, which provides step-by-step guidance for building mindful self-compassion skills and applying them to specific life challenges, and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program, by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff (for professionals).
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Self-Help Book of Merit
- ISBN-109781593859756
- ISBN-13978-1593859756
- Edition1st
- PublisherThe Guilford Press
- Publication dateApril 29, 2009
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions5.91 x 0.79 x 9.06 inches
- Print length306 pages
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
"In this important book, Christopher Germer illuminates the myriad synergies between mindfulness and compassion. He offers skillful and effective ways of making sure that we are inviting ourselves, as well as others, to bathe in and benefit from the kind heart of awareness itself, and from the actions that follow from such a radical and sane embrace."--Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
"Loving-kindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference--in our own lives and those of others....In the following pages you will find a scientific review, an educational manual, and a practical step-by-step guide to developing greater loving-kindness and self-compassion every day."--from the Foreword by Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Love
"Self-compassion is the ground of all emotional healing, and Dr. Germer has produced an invaluable guide. Written with great clarity, psychological wisdom, and warmth, this book will serve anyone seeking practical and powerful tools that free the heart."--Tara Brach, PhD, author of Radical Acceptance
"Explains both the science and practice of developing kindness toward ourselves and others. Dr. Germer offers powerful and easily accessible steps toward transforming our lives from the inside out. It's never too late to start along this important path."--Daniel J. Siegel, MD, author of The Mindful Brain
"An elegant and practical guide to cultivating self-compassion, by a dedicated and wise clinician and meditation teacher. The author offers time-honored practices and exercises with the potential to illuminate and transform the background chatter of our minds that determines so much of the course of our lives."--Samuel Shem, MD, author of The House of God
"Very well written....filled with practical suggestions and methods....Both the reasoning supporting the importance of the method and the method itself are presented in a clear and compelling fashion. I felt excited, touched, and enriched as I read on, and I am sure most readers will have a similar response....Offers a good integration of Eastern spirituality with Western science to make a compelling argument for the values and effectiveness of mindfulness and compassion meditation. Not only is the argument clear and convincing, but the book also offers plenty of practical aids....Should you read this book? Enthusiastically, yes....An excellent review of the evidence for mindful self-compassion in a psychoeducational manual and a step-by-step guide to developing awareness, self-compassion, and loving kindness." ― PsycCRITIQUES Published On: 2009-05-01
"A very accessible introduction....[Germer] writes in a relaxed style that makes the book easy to read, without skimping on detail....The layout is clear and uncluttered, with a mix of explanation, theory, practice, along with case study examples from Germer's own life and that of his clients. There are useful websites scattered through the book....Mindfulness could well become an important part of my own self-care, which will also feed into my client work. This book is a helpful start and a handy resource." ― Independent Practitioner Published On: 2009-05-01
"In this intelligent, concise, and easy-to-read book, Christopher Germer presents an exciting synthesis of mindfulness and self-compassion that is much needed and long overdue. Drawing upon decades of practice as a clinician and meditator, Dr. Germer offers a rich and insightful guide to emotional healing. While thoroughly covering the relevant psychological research, the book is written for a general audience, and will be of enormous benefit to both therapists and their clients....Germer's narrative voice is warm, gentle, and down-to-earth. His years of meditation practice have clearly paid off in the writing of this book: every word is infused with wisdom and compassion. An invaluable guide to anyone wanting to learn how to transform their relationship with difficult emotions, this important book will undoubtedly change the lives of many who read it." ― British Journal of Psychology Published On: 2009-05-01
About the Author
Christopher Germer, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Lecturer on Psychiatry (part-time) at Harvard Medical School. His books with Kristin Neff include The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook and Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout (for the general public) and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program (for professionals). Dr. Germer is also author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion and coeditor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy. He lectures and leads workshops internationally and has a small psychotherapy practice in Massachusetts. His website is https://chrisgermer.com.
Product details
- ASIN : 1593859759
- Publisher : The Guilford Press; 1st edition (April 29, 2009)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 306 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781593859756
- ISBN-13 : 978-1593859756
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.91 x 0.79 x 9.06 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #58,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #434 in Meditation (Books)
- #1,161 in Happiness Self-Help
- #1,768 in Personal Transformation Self-Help
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Christopher Germer, PhD is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry (part-time) at Harvard Medical School. He is a co-developer (with Kristin Neff) of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program, author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, co-author of The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout, and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program, and co-editor of Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy.
Dr. Germer is a founding faculty member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy as well as the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School. He teaches and leads workshops internationally on mindfulness and compassion, and has a private practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, USA specializing in mindfulness and compassion-based psychotherapy.
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Customers find the book helpful for developing self-compassion. They appreciate its use of mindfulness as a vehicle for self-reflection, learning new insights about themselves and their emotions. The writing style is described as clear, easy to read, and well-written.
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Customers find the book helpful for developing self-compassion. They say it answers their deepest questions and helps them learn new things about themselves. The book provides a practical guide toward self-kindness, inspiring readers and opening them up to themselves. Readers appreciate the secular approach to mindfulness and self compassion.
"...It helps you take a step back" Read more
"...part about this book is the way that it uses mindfulness as a vehicle for the development of self-compassion, such that as readers move through the..." Read more
"...book, myself and others, and I was pleased how the book had a variety of case studies that included not only psychological case studies, but also..." Read more
"...to ("in my emotional life,") which I truly feel is answering my deepest questions for why I have not been able to overcome my "multi-..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and helpful for mental health issues. They recommend reading it a little at a time to absorb its content fully. The book presents a simple yet effective way to overcome challenges.
"...and learning to relate compassionately with themselves, this excellent book is it...." Read more
"...Also this is a book to read a little at a time so you can really absorb it." Read more
"This book has been a powerful resource for someone who is a trauma survivor and has been in desperate need of learning self-compassion...." Read more
"Decent book, it had some very insightful tips and tricks on meditation and being in the moment." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and informative. They appreciate the straightforward language, personal anecdotes, and practical approach. The writing style is intelligent and clear, providing an accessible and informative guide to mindfulness.
"...supported by dozens of clinical trials...but for those who want a readable, sensitive path that is rooted in both spirituality and psychology, it is..." Read more
"...but it's an easy read, not overly scientific nor full of medical terminology...." Read more
"...self-compassion with research into self-compassion in a way that is easy to read and makes both mindfulness and self-compassion feel approachable...." Read more
"Christopher Germer does a great job of writing this important book...." Read more
Reviews with images
A Masterpiece on the Subject - Brilliant and Simple with Practice
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2024My therapist suggested this book to me and I'm enjoying it. It helps you take a step back
- Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2011I won't go into a description of this book, because there are plenty of reviews that do that. What I will say is that as a psychology professor and psychotherapist, I have a few "go-to" books - books that I constantly have to replace because I end up giving them out to students or loaning them to clients. For couples, for example, it's Notarius & Markman's "We Can Work It Out." For people that need to work on mindfulness and learning to relate compassionately with themselves, this excellent book is it. I finally bought it on kindle as well just to have a copy that I could count on being able to get my hands on! Probably my favorite part about this book is the way that it uses mindfulness as a vehicle for the development of self-compassion, such that as readers move through the book, they develop both of these capacities. I can see it not appealing to some - it might be too psychological for those who prefer Thich Nhat Hahn, or not empirical enough for psychology professionals looking for empirically-validated treatment approaches supported by dozens of clinical trials...but for those who want a readable, sensitive path that is rooted in both spirituality and psychology, it is a tremendous resource. Highly recommended.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2012I had only recently heard of the concept of "self-compassion" through a blog I stumbled upon last year, and I'm trying to learn more about meditation to deal with chronic neuropathic pain and "self-compassion" as a tool to deal with depression and alcoholism. There are a few people in mind I have when reading this book, myself and others, and I was pleased how the book had a variety of case studies that included not only psychological case studies, but also other experiments and studies involving functional MRIs. The book gives actual "steps" on what you can do to practice mindfulness and self-compassion. It's not preachy, it's not sappy. It's a good how-to book with studies and stories to introduce you to "mindfulness" and self-compassion. I haven't finished reading it (I have a tendency to have several books "in progress" and bounce around according to my mood), but it's an easy read, not overly scientific nor full of medical terminology. It's for the "regular" person seeking practical ways to deal with their depression, pain, ptsd, alcoholism, grief, feelings of failure, or other deadening and self-defeating habits or battles. If you're trying to get through an exhausting mental battle, tired of not being able to function, keep "slipping back" or sick of being on medication, I recommend you read this book for practical ways to help heal yourself and be able to face daily challenges.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2016This is by far the "closest thing" I have ever come to ("in my emotional life,") which I truly feel is answering my deepest questions for why I have not been able to overcome my "multi-faceted" anxieties. The approach is entirely new to me and comes from a completely different angle (quite the opposite actually) from my self-critical approach. The heart of this book for me personally has much to do with seeing and feeling (and allowing with softness and kind loving awareness) the suffering I "endured" as a young child. The solution Christopher write about has been for me (for us) to love that hurt little boy and to accept that there were causes -- which in my case had to do with my mother (God bless her) who was in many ways unavailable to me physically and emotionally -- and who was quite opinionated and critical of others. I now see my anger clearly in my body (when it is revisited) and how I am now more able to accept it with a self-loving and compassionate attitude. I highly recommend this book as a tool for many people who suffer from childhood trauma whether it be slight or deep.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece on the Subject - Brilliant and Simple with PracticeThis is by far the "closest thing" I have ever come to ("in my emotional life,") which I truly feel is answering my deepest questions for why I have not been able to overcome my "multi-faceted" anxieties. The approach is entirely new to me and comes from a completely different angle (quite the opposite actually) from my self-critical approach. The heart of this book for me personally has much to do with seeing and feeling (and allowing with softness and kind loving awareness) the suffering I "endured" as a young child. The solution Christopher write about has been for me (for us) to love that hurt little boy and to accept that there were causes -- which in my case had to do with my mother (God bless her) who was in many ways unavailable to me physically and emotionally -- and who was quite opinionated and critical of others. I now see my anger clearly in my body (when it is revisited) and how I am now more able to accept it with a self-loving and compassionate attitude. I highly recommend this book as a tool for many people who suffer from childhood trauma whether it be slight or deep.
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2016
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2023The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions by Christopher K. Germer, PhD focuses on mindfulness in a way that gently glides into self-compassion. Germer weaves his personal and professional experience using mindfulness to get to self-compassion with research into self-compassion in a way that is easy to read and makes both mindfulness and self-compassion feel approachable. He includes exercises and meditations to demonstrate the effectiveness of mindfulness on self-compassion. I really like that Germer explains that self-compassion isn't a self-help goal but a continuous journey that sometimes brings up pain while helping one to heal in a way that encourages and inspires one to pursue embracing self-compassion. The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion helped me with my own journey to strengthen my mindfulness and my self-compassion.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2010This book has brought me so many answers as to how to cope with day to day living, they're beyond counting. When I get to the end, I start over and begin again. I'm reading it for the third time and the pages are wrinkly from all the highlighting. :-) You don't have to be religious to benefit, and you can also benefit if you ARE religious - because it's not about religion, it's about living centered and sane. I'm really getting in touch with the reality that when I'm centered and sane within, my external world gets more centered and sane. Maybe the world hasn't changed at all but I'm simply seeing it differently - that's OK with me, all I know is that I feel better.
If there's something you're having trouble coping with, or if you just have this undercurrent of feeling a little nuts all the time, check this out. And keep a highlighter handy.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2024The book was used but in good condition. It was exactly as described.
Top reviews from other countries
- Laura GreenReviewed in France on August 10, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you
Well written and smart, I really enjoyed this. Helps tie together different therapy and spiritual traditions in a way that makes sense for my love of evidence-based, scientific, universally true stuff.
- HEMReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Clear & concise.
This is an excellent manual on practicing mindfulness with self - compassion to provide relief from emotional suffering. I only wish that I had been aware of both mindfulness & self compassion a long time ago and that easily followed guides like Christopher Germer’s had come to my attention earlier. I have also recently found the teachings of Thay Thich Nhat Hanh both on You Tube & in books to be of immense help.I really hope that anyone suffering from any form of emotional imbalance find these resources to bring the relief that they are providing for me - as long as you are prepared to practice they work.
- Debbie BatemanReviewed in Canada on August 16, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Self-care
I bought this book two years after I started a daily loving kindness meditation practice. It helped me refine the experience, tune into my feelings, and expand my capacity for self-compassion. For me, this has been a life-shifting experience. The meditation exercises are simple and easy to follow. The basic principles of practice can be integrated into any life, whether you meditate regularly or just want to find new strategies for taking care of yourself in the normal course of a day. I wonder how many of us might find more peace if we learned how to take as good care of ourselves as we do of others.
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Regina Maria HoriReviewed in Brazil on October 5, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Sem compaixão não dá...
O livro é excelente. Simples, direto, e, principalmente, bem fundamentado. A leitura é prazerosa, e as práticas são valiosas. Recomendo.
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Dan BonReviewed in Germany on April 11, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
A wonderful book which helped me to overcome some sleeping problems. It's written in a very convincing way.
I can honestly recommend it!