UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness (UCSD CFM) Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT)

UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness (UCSD CFM) Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) is organized by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness (UCSD CFM) and will be held from Jan 06 - Feb 24, 2025.

Description:
Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) is an 8-week course designed to develop the qualities of compassion, empathy, and kindness for oneself and others. The course, developed by a team of contemplative scholars, clinical psychologists, and researchers at Stanford University, combines traditional contemplative practices with contemporary psychology and scientific research on compassion.

Compassion unfolds in response to suffering, beginning with our recognition of it, then conjuring change to elicit empathy and concern. This, in turn, motivates us to take action, and help relieve that suffering.

Expanding beyond mindfulness, compassion arises both on the personal level of our individual relationships and on the global level of cultures and nations interacting with one another. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said that the problems of the world – social, economic, environmental, and so on – are best understood and viewed through the lens of compassion. With compassion, our empathy for the suffering of others can give rise to altruism – bringing immediate and long-term happiness and tranquility to our lives.

Humans have a natural capacity for compassion. However, everyday stress, social pressures, and life experiences can suppress it –potentially resulting in physical and psychological problems. The good news is that we can train ourselves to nurture others while developing our compassionate instinct. This process requires patience, steady care, proper tools, and a supportive environment.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Apply basic mindfulness skills and utilize mindfulness meditation to stay present to self and others
• Apply learned compassion skills as a response to everyday needs and demands in personal and professional settings
• Utilize compassion practice with oneself and others for emotional regulation in the face of distress • Utilize cognitive re-framing with oneself and others from the compassionate stance of common humanity
• Explain the differences between empathy and compassion • Describe how empathetic distress vs. compassion collapse leads to burnout
• Utilize evidence-based self-compassion meditation practices in the context of personal and professional relationships
• List three (3) sources of resistance to the development of self-compassion
• Explain three (3) ways to recognize resistance to compassion for and from others
• Describe current research studies on the effects and effectiveness of compassion practices

Why Enroll?
Compassion training extends beyond helping one feel more empathy and concern for others. It includes the development of:

• The strength to be present with suffering
• The courage to take compassionate action
• The resilience to prevent compassion fatigue