Start a Compassionate Conversation

 

What is the conversation you’re having with yourself in photos? Is it one based on compassion or one that is based in critical self-talk?

For many of us, we might not even know as the way we’ve talked to ourselves for so long that it even sounds like our own voice.

We put SO much energy into this conversation, this dialogue and critical banter we’ve had with our inner critic for so long. It’s exhausting, isn’t it.

So let’s start a compassionate conversation. One that doesn’t expect us never to have our inner critic show up (cause it still will) but to cultivate a compassionate dialogue with ourselves, slowing bringing our own voice back into the conversation.

This is how I describe the work of being your own beloved, as a way to spark a conversation with ourselves using the camera as our tool because for many of us, more than any other aspect of our lives (except perhaps the mirror) the camera sparks this kind of critical dialogue for many of us.

Which makes it the perfect tool for reclaiming it.

In this gentle yet powerful 15 day class, the first class of the year of the Body Peace Program, we’ll start using the camera as a way to say hello to our long lost selves in the photo, to ease into this compassionate conversation.

We’ll spark a dialogue with ourselves through the camera, which is at the heart of the work we’re doing throughout this year in the Body Peace program. We make room for the questions that arise and break the silence of our relationship to our own compassionate inner voice and work towards cultivating a more non-violent communication with ourselves. It’s a powerful way to spark this year as a whole and to reconnect with ourselves.

 

In this 15-day self-portrait journey you will:

• Ease into taking self-portraits through gentle and creative photo prompts
• Begin the process of shifting from a place of self-critique towards self-compassion
• Explore the dialogue we are presently having with ourselves and wake up to the ways we’re so much harder on ourselves than we’d ever be on anyone else.
• Start a compassionate dialogue with yourself through the camera
• Build up our resiliency by exploring tools to help shift the conversation with ourselves we’re having when moments of self-critique come up
• Meet what I call “Your Inner Beloved” your own inner voice that is often hard to hear with the shouting of our inner critic awaiting us.
• Spark a playful relationship with using the camera as a tool for self-compassion, body acceptance while at the same time feeling creatively inspired!

 

 

What You’ll Need for Class:

• A camera of any sort. iPhones and Androids (or camera phones of any sort) are most welcome. As are point and shoot cameras or DSLRs. No fancy gear or camera skill required, just a willingness to be inquisitive and have fun with your camera in the process!
• Access to our class Flickr Group is not mandatory but I highly encourage it, even if you’re not ready to share your photos it’s a great place to get inspired and connect with our class community.

 

Dates:

January 1st-15th, 2017

 

Join Compassionate Conversations:
The Compassionate Conversations class is only available as a part of the year-long Body Peace Program. Find out more about the Body Peace Program here!

 

 

 

 

 

FAQ:

What kinds of selfies will I be taking?

Since it’s the first class in the year long Body Peace program, it’s the perfect time to ease into our self-portrait journey so I’ll be starting this class out gently and it’s most definitely beginner friendly. But we do go outside of the box of what a ‘selfie’ is and do a variety of prompts (some I find are much more gentle than jumping right into a close-up selfie of our faces) like reaching our hands into the frame or capturing a photo of our feet grounded on the earth. All of the kinds of selfies in this class can be done with a smartphone or camera of any sort. No special gear or experience needed.

How much time do I need each day for the class?

The prompts are designed to take only a few minutes to read and then about 5-10 minutes to take a selfie. I’ll remind you regularly that these aren’t about taking fancy selfies that you need to take hours for. It’s about showing up for ourselves in front of the lens and going for it.

My inner critic doesn’t show up when I take selfies and I love capturing photos of myself. Can I still take the class?

If you take selfies with ease and never have your inner critic show up and curate what you share…awesome! But in that case, this class probably isn’t for you and you may find yourself thriving more in a more artistic based self-portraiture class or another program. This one really is for folks who struggle with taking selfies and resist being in images (which by the way…is where most of us fall)!

Should I take Be Your Own Beloved first? 

It’s not vital to have taken Be Your Own Beloved or Beloved Beginnings first. The Body Peace program was initially created for alumni of the Be Your Own Beloved class (as folks were eager for more and a deeper dive into seeing ourselves with compassion) but last year in the program a number of folks had never taken a class with me before and joined in…and absolutely thrived in the class. So there’s no need to have taken a class with me before though I do recommend checking out the site and getting familiar with this approach (just to make sure it’s the right fit for you). Please don’t hesitate to contact me via the contact form if you have any questions or are wondering it is a good fit for you.

I took Be Your Own Beloved but didn’t do all the activities. Should I take this class?

YES! Absolutely. If you have taken one of the other classes but perhaps didn’t finish all the activities, let’s invite that to be a place of self-compassion. This isn’t about having done ALL the activities first but instead having offered ourselves some space for exploring selfies with kindness either through a class or on our own. Whether it be one photo or a hundred. This class actually isn’t for folks who have no problem taking selfies, it’s more so for those of us who find ourselves facing our inner critic when we do. It’s about letting ourselves have more tools to meet our inner critic there and invite in kindness.