[Video] Dr. Chris Germer: “We would never feel shame if we didn’t wish to be loved.”

As many of us have experienced, shame can be a very intense, painful, and difficult emotion. But, as Chris Germer, PhD, co-founder of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, there is an antidote to shame: self-compassion.

In this 8-minute video, Dr. Germer offers heart-opening insight into how shame is an innocent emotion arising from the universal wish to be loved. Recognizing this, he says, opens the door to self-compassion, which can then be practiced and cultivated as a profound way of alleviating shame.

Join Chris Germer and Carolina Bautista-Velez for a live online Introduction to Self-Compassion for Shame Workshop!

On September 4th & 6th, Chris Germer and Carolina Bautista-Velez will lead a live, online, experiential Introduction to Self-Compassion for Shame Workshop. This workshop consists of two 3-hour sessions, featuring talks, meditation, research, exercises, and discussion. Learn more and register here >>

Coming up! Introduction to Self-Compassion for Shame Workshop

If you’d like to go deeper in learning how to alleviate shame through self-compassion, we encourage you to check out the upcoming Introduction to Self-Compassion for Shame Workshop led by Chris Germer and Carolina Bautista-Velez through the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.

This 2-part, 6-hour, online workshop will include talks, meditation, research, exercises, and discussion — taking a fresh, non-pathological look at shame through the eyes of compassion. This workshop is relevant for the general public as well as to practicing mental health professionals.

The workshop meets on September 4th & 6th from 9am–12pm PT / 12–3pm ET.

Learn more and register for the online workshop here>>

About Chris Germer

Chris Germer, PhD is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry (part-time) at Harvard Medical School. He co-developed the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program with Kristin Neff in 2010 and MSC has since been taught to over 100,000 people worldwide. They co-authored two books on MSC, The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program.

Chris spends most of his time lecturing and leading workshops around the world on mindfulness and self-compassion. He is also the author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion; he co-edited two influential volumes on therapy, Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy; and he maintains a small private practice in Arlington, Massachusetts, USA.

5 Comments

Yuval Goetzler October 5, 2024 at 6:40 pm - Reply

Thank you. Perhaps a little more on how we all wish to be loved –– a human sameness.
Winnie Waiyaki October 5, 2024 at 12:35 pm - Reply

It is such a profound truth and that makes me think that shame is a pandemic even from just one angle of shaming parenting. How many times growing up did I hear the words “shame on you!”. From the adults around me and age mates too. Personal and public put downs and cruel criticism, being laughed at, segregated and isolated make shame so normal that one is not ever conscious. Thank you so much Dr. Germer for this sharing.
Patrick September 5, 2024 at 10:03 am - Reply

This is so powerful. Learning that my wish to be loved is the motivation for shame is so enlightening. Thanks for the lesson.
Charlotte September 1, 2024 at 4:21 am - Reply

Learning to recognize that I – that others – that we all wish to be loved. That because I haven’t felt loved at important times in the past set me up to feel shame. That practicing self-compassion is practicing to overcome shame. Such profound truths. I hope to jump on another live workshop on this topic, unable to attend this one and prefer live. Thanks so much.
Donna August 30, 2024 at 5:26 am - Reply

This is really really good – makes so much logical sense, but those of us who are untrained can’t see it without Chris’ wisdom..