Culture activist, worker, author ~ Stephen teaches internationally and is the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School, co-founded the school with his wife Nathalie Roy in 2010, convening semi-annually in Deacon, Ontario, and in northern Europe.

He has Master’s degrees from Harvard University (Theology) and the University of Toronto (Social Work).

Apprenticed to a master storyteller when a young man, he has worked extensively with dying people and their families, is former programme director in a major Canadian hospital, former assistant professor in a prominent Canadian medical school.

He is also a sculptor, traditional canoe builder whose house won a Governor General’s Award for architecture.

Since co-founding the Nights of Grief and Mystery project with singer/ songwriter Gregory Hoskins in 2015, he has toured this musical/ tent show revival/ storytelling/ ceremony of a show across North America, U.K. and Europe and Australia and New Zealand. They released their Nights of Grief & Mystery album in 2017 and at the end of 2020, they released two new records; Dark Roads and Rough Gods.

He is the author of Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble (2018), the award-winning Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul (2015), Homecoming: The Haiku Sessions (a live teaching from 2013), How it All Could Be: A workbook for dying people and those who love them (2009), Angel and Executioner: Grief and the Love of Life – (a live teaching from 2009), and Money and The Soul’s Desires: A Meditation (2002). He was a contributing author to Palliative Care – Core Skills and Clinical Competencies (2007).

Stephen Jenkinson is also the subject of the feature length documentary film Griefwalker (National Film Board of Canada, 2008, dir. Tim Wilson), a portrait of his work with dying people, and Lost Nation Road, a shorter documentary on the crafting of the Nights of Grief and Mystery tours (2019, dir. Ian Mackenzie).

His books, recordings and DVDs are available for purchase at the Orphan Wisdom Shop.

How To Live Full & Die Wise (Stephen Jenkinson)

Today, we had a fun talk on Self-compassion. In Mastery Circle, my private coaching community, we reviewed this topic for a full hour. You can go back and get the full chat by joining Mastery Circle. 

Self-compassion is a psychological concept developed by Dr. Kristin Neff. It involves treating oneself with the same kindness, understanding, and support that one would offer to a good friend in times of difficulty or suffering. It's about acknowledging and validating your emotions and experiences without judgment or self-criticism. Self-compassion encompasses three main components:

1. Self-Kindness: This involves being understanding and gentle with yourself when facing challenges or making mistakes. Instead of being overly critical, you treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer to someone else.

2. Common Humanity: This component emphasizes recognizing that suffering, challenges, and imperfections are part of the shared human experience. It's about understanding that everyone faces difficulties, and you're not alone in your struggles.

3. Mindfulness: Mindfulness involves staying present and aware of your thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them. It allows you to observe your experiences without judgment and respond to them in a non-reactive and balanced way.

Here are three ways you can integrate self-compassion into your life:

1. Practice Self-Kindness in Self-Talk: Pay attention to your inner dialogue. When you make a mistake or face a challenge, respond to yourself with kindness and understanding rather than harsh criticism. Treat yourself as you would a friend in the same situation.

2. Mindful Self-Compassion Meditation: Set aside some time each day for mindfulness meditation focused on self-compassion. During this practice, you can sit quietly, breathe deeply, and direct loving-kindness and understanding toward yourself. You can use phrases like "May I be kind to myself," "May I be patient with myself," and "May I accept myself as I am."

3. Write a Self-Compassion Letter: Imagine you're writing a letter to yourself from the perspective of a compassionate friend. Acknowledge your struggles, offer words of encouragement, and express understanding for the challenges you've faced. This exercise can help you cultivate self-compassion and a sense of connection to your own experiences.

Remember, integrating self-compassion takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself as you develop these habits. Over time, self-compassion can lead to increased emotional resilience, improved well-being, and a healthier relationship with yourself.

3 Practical Tips on Self-Compassion

In this track, I talk about step one and lesson one from my new course on people pleasing. You can register for the course here,

https://sylvester-mcnutt-iii.mykajabi.com/offers/eokY498e/checkout

3 Practical Tips on Self-Compassion

SylvesterMcNutt

Related tracks