By Arash Emamzadeh — 2019
How do shame and compassion relate to one another?
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Compassion gets a lot of attention in positive psychology, and for good reason – it’s a major concern of many religious and philosophical leaders, including the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis.
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Psychology of compassion is discussed (part 2)
Attention is like a spotlight—whatever it shines on becomes brighter in the mind. This knowledge can help us build compassion, says Paul Gilbert.
At a weekend workshop I led, one of the participants, Marian, shared her story about the shame and guilt that had tortured her.
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According to the dictionary, to forgive is to stop feeling angry or resentful toward yourself or others for some perceived offense, flaw, or mistake. Keeping that definition in mind, forgiveness becomes a form of compassion.
Grappling with your thoughts will leave you even more entangled in worry. Use metacognitive strategies to break free.
Whether you’re seeking help for a diagnosed mental health condition or just looking for some extra support, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)—which is based on the idea that our thoughts shape our reality and behavior—might be exactly what’s needed.
Compassion is one of those warm, fuzzy words referring to qualities that often seems in short supply in the ever-accelerating rough and tumble of daily life today.
In 1989, at one of the first international Buddhist teacher meetings, Western teachers brought up the enormous problem of unworthiness and self-criticism, shame and self-hatred that frequently they arise in Western students’ practice.
Through the acronym RAIN (Recognize-Allow-Investigate-Nurture) we can awaken the qualities of mature compassion—an embodied, mindful presence, active caring, and an all-inclusive heart.