Cultivating Joy and Self-Compassion | Lunch & Learn (Hybrid)

In person attendees: Are invited to stay after the program for light lunch and community dialogues! Members of The Community for Conscious Aging will host group dialogues to reflect on what we discovered during our time together and learn more about each other. 1 - 1:30pm CT

Together, we’ll explore the three main elements of compassion—mindfulness, common humanity, and kindness—and how it applies to the self. We’ll learn how to ground in self-compassion and joy as we navigate our lives.

Joy and compassion are tremendous resources as we dream new possibilities into being. Practices such as joy spotting—the intentional practice of capturing and savoring moments of joy and beauty in our everyday lives and relationships—can be a source of vitality, strength, and wellness.
Self-compassion can be a resource in navigating caregiving roles—learning to love others without losing ourselves, and learning that no matter what happens, we can be kind, gentle, and compassionate with ourselves.

Cultivating self-compassion and inner kindness helps us to be a more compassionate presence in the lives of others and in the world.
This workshop offers embodied practices, space-making, and heart-based lifelong learning that empower participants to care for themselves and dedicate time and space towards becoming better versions of themselves and their communities.

Note: the speaker is presenting virtually.

Barbara Best, Doctor of Education Leadership (EdLD), 2025, Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her doctoral research focused on cultivating school and community connectedness to empower youth to thrive. Barbara is passionate about centering compassion in leadership – to meet suffering with kindness and to know that we are not alone as we work for transformation. She served for 13 years at the Children’s Defense Fund – 10 years in Houston, Texas and 3 years nationally. Barbara Best is a community organizer and system change leader who is passionate about building systems of care to empower communities to thrive. Guided by a north star of healthy interconnectedness, she inspires joy, purpose, and connection in the people and communities she serves.

This program is being offered both IN-PERSON and ONLINE. Please select how you will attend when registering. Recordings will be distributed to registered participants only, and will not be available for individual purchase.

All times are CT. Please contact onlinelearning@junghouston.org with any questions.

Please register early. Programs with four or fewer participants are subject to cancellation, 48 hours prior to their start.