If forgiveness is divine, does one need to be a saint? Forgiveness is the stuff of everyday heroes, the ultimate measure of internal peace. It can be a form of emotional aikido, where we disarm our perceived opponent with patience and calm and exact the grandest form of “revenge” by […]
Compassion is as vital to life as the air we breathe. For in the absence of compassion, how many benevolent, selfless and heroic deeds would have happened throughout history? Imagine a world without Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., St. Francis of Assisi, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and so many […]
Compassion is the virtue by which we feel and show kindness, empathy, and affection to others. But as they say, “unless our compassion includes ourselves, it is incomplete.” Self-compassion is the ability to express love and devotion to ourselves as we do to others. It is the capacity to reflect […]
In order to understand self-compassion, you have to first understand the concept of compassion. Compassion is the ability we all have to show empathy, love, and concern to those who may be experiencing difficulties. Self-compassion is all about extending that same compassion back toward yourself, which is not always easy […]
Have you ever lost your temper at…yourself? Blamed and then beat yourself up a little inside for doing something you regret? Maybe you’ve been harsh with someone, only to be much harsher with yourself later? It’s easy to be tough on yourself—we tend to do it much, much more than […]
When we talk about mindfulness, there are a number of thoughts that come to mind. We know it’s about building our own sense of self-awareness, creating a greater connection with our bodies and emotions, and a stronger presence within our immediate environments. We might even know that mindfulness can help […]
Whether we like it or not, life is full of ups and downs. The human experience is often peppered with uncomfortable or unpleasant experiences and emotions. Self-compassion presents an opportunity to understand, acknowledge, and transform personal suffering through self-kindness, mindfulness, and an understanding that adversity is an inevitable part of […]
How have you shown kindness to someone today? How has someone else been kind to you? With the increased acknowledgment that bullying behavior is a widespread epidemic in workplaces and schools, the need to reclaim our kindness roots is imperative. Worldwide efforts to shine a light on kindness have led […]
If you claimed that there is an epidemic of bullying in our society, your claim would be affirmed by the drastic number of accounts of such behavior reported among our youth. The underlying issue, however, is not the bullying behavior (though obviously troubling and heartbreaking). The major problem is the […]
Human suffering is often accompanied by acts of compassion from those with a desire to alleviate it. But, what compels someone to donate their time to a local food shelter, or animal rescue center? At our very core, we have a natural capacity for compassion - for ourselves, loved ones, […]
Compassion comes from a Latin word which means ‘co-suffering.’ Practicing and expressing compassion have always secured a firm place in almost all religious practices. Dalai Lama, one of the most respectable Buddhist preachers, stated that individual acts of compassion and kindness have the power to spread harmony in the entire […]
Are you looking for more ways to practice compassion? Did you know a compassionate lifestyle often leads to greater psychological well-being? Practicing compassion is much more than merely sympathizing or being charitable. It's about being affectionate and considerate, empathetic, and also about caring about others unconditionally. In this article, we […]
The phrase “random acts of kindness” (RAK) is relatively well known and has been shared all over the world. When you consider the times when you’ve practice random acts of kindness, what past practices come to mind? I found myself thinking of this question as I wrote this blog because […]
You’ve probably heard about the importance of loving yourself, forgiving yourself, and treating yourself with compassion. But is it really that vital? Can’t you get along just fine without all that mushy, touchy-feely self-love stuff? As it turns out, you can get along just fine—but you will likely never thrive! […]
Shame and guilt are two self-conscious emotions that everyone will feel several times throughout their lives. These are generally negative emotions which make people feel bad about themselves and can have negative consequences. That said, shame and guilt are important emotional components of leading a prosocial life. This article will […]
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” – Dalai Lama We know about the importance of love and compassion for others. As the Dalai Lama stated, humanity cannot survive without these characteristics. I’ve always loved this quote, in part because it can be taken two […]
“Compassion is a foundation for sharing our aliveness and building a more humane world.” – Martin Lowenthal 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. In addition, […]
Empathy is an emotion similar to understanding that people have varying levels of. In this piece, we will discuss the benefits of showing empathy as a therapist, as well as how to show empathy as a therapist. We will also discuss strategies for promoting empathy in people who do not […]
