Free Workshop Invites Community Members to Explore the Meaning and Value of Mindfulness and Self Compassion
For Immediate Release Please
June 5, 2024
Program Contact: Sonya Connelly, sonya.connelly@healthyacadia.org or 207-610-9895
Media Contact: Tracey Carlson, tracey@healthyacadia.org or (207) 667-7171 Ext. 112
Free Workshop Invites Community Members to Explore the Meaning and Value of Mindfulness and Self Compassion
Ellsworth, ME. Community members are invited to join Healthy Acadia on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at The Moore Community Center, 125 State St., Ellsworth, to explore the meaning and value of Mindfulness and Self Compassion.
We live in a fast-paced world that can feel rushed, unpredictable, and sometimes unkind. Add to this our daily stress and inner critic which can leave us depleted and anxious. The good news is there are strategies within the toolbox of mindfulness and self-compassion to help us live in a calm, clear, and connected way.
Mindfulness and self-compassion are inner resources that allow us to soothe and regulate ourselves in the presence of distress, teaching us to handle life's challenges with a gentler and more forgiving attitude. People who practice self-compassion experience greater happiness, life satisfaction, and motivation, alongside improved relationships and physical health. They also report lower levels of anxiety and depression and increased resilience in coping with stressful life events.
Mindfulness is a core component of self-compassion. Mindfulness focuses primarily on acceptance of experience itself, while self-compassion centers on caring for oneself. Together, mindfulness and self-compassion enable us to live with less resistance toward ourselves and our lives. By fully accepting a feeling or experience and being kind to ourselves because of it, we can endure hardships and challenges with greater ease.
Join Sonya Connelly and Ursula Hanson for an experiential Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Workshop. Participants will learn about the importance of cultivating mindfulness and self-compassion in their lives as well as tips and tools to use each day.
Pre-registration is required for this free event. To register, go to bit.ly/mindful-self-723. For more information, contact Sonya Connelly at 207-610-9895 or sonya.connelly@healthyacadia.org.
Sonya Connelly has been serving as the Communications and Community Outreach Coordinator at Healthy Acadia since 2020. She holds a master's degree in counseling and has extensive experience in bereavement support and spiritual formation. With decades of study in mindfulness, meditation, and contemplative practices, Sonya is deeply passionate about simplicity and slow living.
Ursula Hanson, LCSW, has been leading Healthy Acadia’s Mindfulness in Education Program and the Monthly Mindfulness Series since 2017. With over 15 years of experience as a therapist in various settings, Ursula has harnessed the power of mindfulness to manage her own anxiety and enhance her overall happiness.
Healthy Acadia is a 501(C)(3) community health organization building vibrant communities and making it easier for everyone to lead healthy lives. They serve Washington and Hancock counties and provide additional community health support and leadership across Maine. For more information about Healthy Acadia’s community health initiatives, visit healthyacadia.org.
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