Mindfulness as strategy for transforming suffering

- [Narrator] Let's start with mindfulness. Mindfulness in general is defined as paying attention to whatever is happening in the present moment and to do so with an attitude of curiosity, of acceptance and even warmth. When mindfulness is part of self compassion, it can be best thought of as bringing compassionate presence towards your own experience of suffering. If you remember when we talked about compassionate presence, it was really about turning your attention in a grounded and caring way to the one who is suffering, not trying to fix or sooth or dismiss the suffering, but really paying attention. When it comes to your own suffering, this might mean really giving yourself permission to feel whatever the suffering is: the sadness, the anger, fear, and asking yourself, what does it feel like in my body? What emotions are present? What's happening in my mind? And it might even include noticing whatever inner dialogue is…