
We’ll spend our day apart on March 12 taking a taste of CIT, focusing on self compassion skills. I am excited to share this with you and to be part of what I consider the way to a vastly better world.
The layering of psychology, neuroscience and contemplation allowed a blending of what might be called the 'spiritual with the secular' or vice versa. I found this extraordinarily useful. It meant that material could be used as an entry point for anyone and everyone regardless of their beliefs or culture. This blending removes the barriers so often erected by belief and economic status - stripping our shared humanity to the bare essentials; the need to remove suffering and discover happiness. Two words compassion and reciprocity.
I truly loved recognizing the subtle and deeper levels of ways that are important and necessary to change my behavior regarding compassionate thinking and action in my life - A peeling of the onion for deeper personal learning took place for me. This is so valuable and offers me this beautiful opportunity to "see" my core more clearly and to operate from there more often. It's like a light revealed what I knew was there but I didn't have the light before to show it to me it in all its beauty and capacity. What a lovely gift for me and all humanity.
--Online student
Honestly, when I told my wife that I was participating in compassion training she said, "you? but you already have empathy and compassion." It is easy to see ourselves as being compassionate especially as teachers. CIT has taught me mindfulness and process. It has reminded me of self-compassion and the role of seeing every person's perspective. It is easy to empathize with my "in group," but I must practice empathy with everyone.
--High School Teacher
Author

Judie Bryant
Judie Bryant is a Certified Facilitator of Compassionate Integrity Training (CIT). She firmly believes that compassion as well as integrity are values and skills that are deeply needed if we are to enhance our own and other’s well being. An ...