Episode 220 - Self-Compassion

Episode 220 - Self-Compassion

Author: JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Teacher October 20, 2025 Duration: 37:57
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
ReligionReligion & SpiritualityBuddhismSpirituality

In this episode, JoAnn Fox shares the practice of W.A.I.T.—What Am I Thinking? to help us cultivate self-compassion and retrain the often-critical voice in our minds. Through mindfulness, we can begin to notice the thoughts that shape how we treat ourselves, and choose a kinder, more beneficial way to respond.

The Buddha said: 

All experience is preceded by mind, 

Led by mind, 

Made by mind. 

Our world is created by our thoughts. Every word, every action, every mood begins as a whisper in the mind. And sometimes, those whispers aren't so kind.

When we notice the narrator in our head becoming unkind, we can pause and think, 'WAIT! What am I thinking?' Then we try to speak to ourselves with compassion instead of judgment. 

Observe any specific automatic patterns of self-criticism, doubt, or fear. Gradually try to replace them with thoughts rooted in compassion, understanding, and encouragement. For a more on the practice of W.A.I.T for developing self-compassion, see our blog post Awakening Self-Compassion. 

The Five Gates of Speech

The Buddha, in his gentle wisdom, offered a path to mindful speech through what he called "The Five Gatekeepers of Speech." These gatekeepers stand like sentinels, reminding us to pause and make sure our words can pass through these five gates:

Is it true? Is it kind? Is it beneficial? Is it necessary? Is it the right time?

References and Links

Buddha.The Dhammapada. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. (Kindle). Shambala, Boston and London, 2011.

Neff, Kristin. (n.d.). What is self-compassion? Self-Compassion.org. Retrieved https://self-compassion.org/what-is-self-compassion

Find us at the links below: 

Our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/BuddhismForEveryone

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone

Private Facebook Group:: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/

Website: Buddhismforeveryone.com

Instagram: @buddhism4everyone

X: @Joannfox77

TikTok: @buddhism4everyone

YouTube: @Buddhism4Everyone

To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program

To learn about Life Coaching with JoAnn Fox visit www.BuddhismforEveryone.com/coaching

 


You'll find Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox to be a conversation that feels both timeless and immediately useful. JoAnn Fox, a Buddhist teacher with over two decades of experience, guides these discussions with a genuine warmth and a welcome touch of humor, making profound ideas feel accessible. This isn't about abstract philosophy; it's about the tangible ways these ancient practices can reshape our modern days. Each episode, released every other week, delves into practical applications. You might explore how to cultivate patience during a frustrating commute, find a deeper sense of contentment amidst daily routines, or develop the compassionate resilience the world needs. The podcast serves as a gentle, consistent reminder that spiritual growth isn't separate from ordinary life-it's woven right into it. JoAnn's approach demystifies meditation and mindfulness, framing them as tools for anyone seeking more peace or clarity. Whether you're completely new to these concepts or looking to deepen an existing practice, the conversations meet you where you are, offering insights that encourage reflection and, most importantly, action in your own life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 230

Official website RSS
Buddhism for Everyone with JoAnn Fox
Podcast Episodes
Episode 216 - W.A.I.T. Why am I talking? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:30
Have you ever walked away from a conversation and thought, "Why did I just say that?" Oh, me too. But thankfully, the Buddha left us plenty of tools to transform even our speech into something sacred. In this episode, we…
Episode 215 - How to Be Present in Moment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:02
This episode is a gentle return to something simple, sacred, and too often forgotten: the present moment. The only moment we ever truly have. We explore what it means to really be present. True calm arises when we're not…
Episode 214 - The Dalai Lama's Secret to Lasting Happiness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:33
We chase happiness like it's just around the corner. Could our final destination, "happiness," be hidden in a new relationship, job title, city, or home? But His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with his childlike laugh and moun…
Episode 213: How to Be Mentally Strong When Things Go Wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:38
This episode is about those moments when life doesn't go according to plan: when things go wrong, fall apart, or just feel too heavy to bear. At these times, mental strength becomes our most valuable refuge. But what doe…
Episode 212 - How To Be Calm Amidst Chaos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:20
"Praise and blame, fame and shame, gain and loss, pleasure and pain come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree in the midst of them all." ― Buddha We're exploring a truth so simple yet profound it alm…
Episode 211 - Let Love and Hope Rewrite the Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:23
We're exploring a truth so simple yet profound it almost feels like a secret; every problem we have comes from just one thing--our own mind. Specifically, our problems come from misperceiving reality: we see our worries,…
Episode 210 - Aṅgulimāla: Practicing Non-violence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:03
In this episode, we practice one of the most powerful antidotes to anger and aversion: compassion. I know—when we're irritated, hurt, or downright fuming, compassion is usually the last thing on our minds. But in Buddhis…
Episode 209 - No Self: Discovering Limitless Potential [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:47
Who—or what—are you, really? If you start peeling back the layers, things get interesting fast. You have a body, but you're not just your body. You have thoughts, but if you were your thoughts, wouldn't you have disappea…
Episode 208 - Smells like dukkha [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:23
The Buddha taught that dukkha—suffering and dissatisfaction—doesn't come from the outside world. Our problems don't arise from difficult people or hardships. Our problems come from within our own mind, from the way we re…
Episode 207 - Giving as an Antidote to Attachment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:49
Attachment has a sneaky way of making us hold on too tightly—to things, to people, to our own comfort zones. We cling, we grasp, we hesitate to let go, fearing we might lose something essential. But what if the very act…

«123456...23»