Spirituality Studies 11-2 Fall 2025 21 Petra Kacafírková Learning to Be with Oneself: Reflections on Mindfulness and SelfCompassion among Future Educators Petra Kacafírková Received August 30, 2025 Revised September 10, 2025 Accepted September 11, 2025 Key words Mindfulness, selfcompassion, future educators, qualitative research, emotional resistance This paper reports on a qualitative pilot study involving students preparing for careers in nonformal education (N = 15) who participated in a four-session intervention introducing mindfulness and self-compassion. The aim was to explore how future educators perceive the personal and pedagogical relevance of these practices, as well as the barriers they encounter. Focus group data were analysed thematically, revealing three themes: perceived personal benefits (greater everyday awareness, recognition of self-critical inner dialogue, valuing exposure to techniques); barriers to practice (personal, contextual, accessibility, and emotional resistance); and perceived pedagogical implications (age-appropriateness, potential classroom use, and teachers’ own engagement). The findings show that while some barriers are easily addressed through practical adjustments, sustaining engagement requires individualised approaches that respect personal preferences and readiness. Above all, the study highlights that emotional resistance is not peripheral but lies at the heart of what makes these practices both challenging and transformative. PhDr. Petra Kacafírková, Ph.D. serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science, Humanities, and Education at the Technical University of Liberec in the Czech Republic. She teaches psychology courses to future educators. Her professional interests include self-compassion, mindfulness, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Kacafírková can be reached at petra.kacafirkova@tul.cz. orcid.org ←← Photography © 2025 Martin Dojčár
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