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Esalen Institute

Make Peace With Your Judging Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Help Free You from the Inner Critic

Feb 20, 2026 – Feb 22, 2026 · 3 days · Big Sur, CA

Weekend
SecularSilence TBDLevel TBDCost on site

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Retreat overview

Have you noticed the painful effects of self-judgment?

Do you feel tormented by negative critical self-talk and the harsh words of the inner critic?  Are you prone to judging everything you do as not good enough, not quite right, or not up to some impossibly high standard?

Do you find yourself harshly judging your meditation, your practice, or your other spiritual practices?

If you wish to be free from the influence of the inner critic, this workshop offers tried-and-tested methods for overcoming the challenges of self-judgment.

During this course, you will be shown:

  • How to recognize judging thoughts.  
  • To deal effectively with inner critic attacks.
  • How to distinguish between negative judgment and wise discernment.
  • The importance of self-acceptance, self-compassion, and  love as antidotes to the critic.
  • The need and role of humor in helping us with the critic.
  • To cultivate forgiveness in response to judgment. The course will be a combination of talks, interactive exercises, mindfulness, self-compassion, loving kindness techniques, and meditations. This will be a practical and experiential course taught with lightness, compassion, humor, and the need to not take ourselves too seriously. Recommended reading: Make Peace with your Mind – How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Help Free You from the Inner Critic, by Mark Coleman This workshop includes an additional $100 in faculty tuition.
Teachers: Mark Coleman

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About Esalen Institute

Big Sur retreat campus known for experiential workshops, contemplative practice, and ocean-view renewal.

Founded 1962Iconic retreat center
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