I’ve known people who have attended Drs. Neff and Germer’s 8-week MSC (Mindful Self-Compassion) program and raved about it. And I have heard recently that I would never talk to or about a friend the way  I talk to or about myself, so the opportunity provided by Guilford Press and NetGalley to read The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook in exchange for my honest review seemed  timely, to say the least.

The book is written for the layperson, and includes stories of people who have used Neff and Germer’s techniques to deal with issues of weight and body image, anxiety, interpersonal relationships—you name it, it just may be included. Their approach suggests that we all have the “seeds” of self-compassion within us, and their work is designed to help people learn to bring out our self-compassion and build inner strength via mindfulness.

I particularly like the step-by-step layout, and the use of specific exercises over a multi-week timeframe to develop the ability to minimize self-judgment and expand the ability to be kinder to oneself. There are also guided meditations, including audio downloads available to help with the practice of mindfulness.

Neff and Germer are well-known for their work in this area, and this book avoids the overly academic language that makes some readers feel even more inadequate (“I’ll never get this, I can’t even understand the language, let alone put it into practice”). It’s both a fine introduction into the practice of mindfulness as well as an outstanding workbook to help those interested in the benefits of mindfulness to progress further over time. Five stars.

Publication date: August 15, 2018