THE POWER OF COMPASSION

FEW OF US WILL GET through life without experiencing some episodes of anxiety, anger, worry or depression.

YOUR OWN WORST CRITIC

Learning to have compassion for oneself is no different from having compassion for other. 'Compassion means feeling moved my others' suffering and offering understanding and kindness when mistakes are made, rather than judging harshly. Self compassion involves acting the same way towards oneself. So instead of criticising ourselves for inadequacies or shortcomings, we learn to be kind and understanding when confronted in difficult times.

* Be mindful of your emotions. When you notice that you are becoming frustrated or self critical, make a decision to adjust this in your mind.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES AND WE ALL NEED TO BE LOVED



Bertrand Russell:

Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love, the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for the suffering of [humankind].

Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness.
In the union of love I have seen
In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision
Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.

With equal passion I have sought knowledge.
I have wished to understand the hearts of [people].
I have wished to know why the stars shine.

Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens,
But always pity brought me back to earth;
Cries of pain reverberated in my heart
Of children in famine, of victims tortured
And of old people left helpless.
I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot,
And I too suffer.

This has been my life; I found it worth living.

adapted