On Compassion, Healing, Suffering, and the Purpose of the Emotional Life

On Compassion, Healing, Suffering, and the Purpose of the Emotional Life
Author: Susan Wessel
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 177
Release: 2020-04-30
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1501344544

Reading Augustine presents concise, personal readings of St. Augustine of Hippo from leading philosophers and religion scholars. Augustine of Hippo knew that this fallen world is a place of sadness and suffering. In such a world, he determined that compassion is the most suitable and virtuous response. Its transformative powers could be accessed through the mind and its memories, through the healing of the Incarnation, and through the discernment of Christians who are forced to navigate through a corrupt and deceptive world. Susan Wessel considers Augustine's theology of compassion by examining his personal experience of loss and his reflections concerning individual and corporate suffering in the context of the human condition and salvation.

Heal With Compassion

Heal With Compassion
Author: Tina Ashok Dhingra
Publisher: Tina Ashok Dhingra
Total Pages: 108
Release: 2024-07-02
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN:

Compassion is a profound expression of love, understanding, sensitivity, and empathy towards others, so deep that one feels another's pain as their own. A genuine embodiment of compassion doesn't just empathize; they act selflessly to ease the suffering they perceive. This proactive kindness is the pinnacle of compassionate acts. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, this is termed 'karuna.' Meanwhile, Buddhists encapsulate this concept as 'loving kindness' – a potent emotion that can pave the path to spiritual liberation. In the realm of spirituality, compassion holds a revered place. Those on a spiritual journey are often guided to embrace kindness, as it can purify past transgressions and expedite one's spiritual evolution. Authentic compassion stems from a place of pure, selfless love – untouched by ego or worldly desires. We each possess unique qualities and perspectives, a testament to the splendor of individuality. What is it about compassion that can touch and transform hearts? How can it serve as a tool for personal healing and a balm for societal wounds? We will delve into these questions in "Heal with Compassion," drawing upon scientific research, philosophical insights, and, most importantly, real-life stories. Each chapter is designed to unravel a different aspect of compassion, from understanding its roots to discovering its profound impact on our mental and physical health. We begin by defining compassion. Often misconstrued as mere pity or empathy, compassion is much more. It is the emotional response when we perceive suffering and involves an authentic desire to help alleviate it. It's a trait that can be nurtured and developed, a journey from the heart that extends outwards, touching lives and healing wounds. As we progress through this book, we will explore practical ways to cultivate compassion daily. From mindful practices to the art of listening, each chapter will provide tools and exercises to help you develop a compassionate mindset. But why is compassion so crucial, especially in today's world? Compassion invites us to reconnect with our inherent interdependence in a society where individualism often takes precedence. It reminds us that in the tapestry of humanity, each thread is interconnected, each color vital to the overall picture. "Heal with Compassion" is more than just a book; it's a call to action. A call to turn towards suffering – our own and others – with an open heart, to listen deeply, and to act with kindness. It's an invitation to embark on a journey that promises to be as rewarding as it is challenging. It can potentially transform not just individual lives but the fabric of society. So, dear reader, I invite you to join me as you turn these pages. Let us walk this path together, learning, growing, and healing with compassion.

Compassionate Living

Compassionate Living
Author: Jackie Hudson
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 80
Release: 2010-03-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1725245590

PRAISE FOR COMPASSIONATE LIVING "I've known Jackie more than 30 years, and we've walked together closely on this road to growth. No one knows the process emotionally, personally, and spiritually better than Jackie Hudson. And no one gives more compassionate, practical, and life-changing insight." --Mary Graham President, Women of Faith "One major source of emotional woundedness is not that we forget we're Christians-it's that we forget we are human! In Compassionate Living, Jackie Hudson unpacks our inside baggage and helps us re-sort our belongings. Some we throw out. Some we rearrange. Some we leave at the foot of the cross. The content, the PRAY Process, and the follow-up exercises will bring immediate clarity as well as long-term change. It is a holistic approach that will launch you into a season of adventure and a lifetime of healing." --Wayne Cordeiro Chancellor, Pacific Rim Christian College Consortium "Jackie's words in this book are like a salve to the soul. She ministers to our innermost issues and encourages us to stay engaged in the process of growth. Jackie outlines practical ways you can experience grace, truth, and time, so you can grow deeper in your relationship with God and with others." --Steve Sellers Vice President for the Americas, Campus Crusade for Christ

Healing Wounded Emotions

Healing Wounded Emotions
Author: Martin H. Padovani
Publisher: Twenty-Third Publications
Total Pages: 140
Release: 1987
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9780896223332

In this empathetic and inspiring resource, Padovani describes how one's emotional and spiritual lives interact, as he challenges readers to live fuller, more satisfying lives.

The Compassionate Connection: The Healing Power of Empathy and Mindful Listening

The Compassionate Connection: The Healing Power of Empathy and Mindful Listening
Author: David Rakel
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2018-04-17
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 0393247759

“This book explains not only the healing power of compassionate human connection, but in the most accessible and practical ways, how to cultivate our capacity to create that connection and thereby empower others to find their best selves.”—John Makransky, author of Awakening through Love All of us have an innate capacity for compassion. We recognize when others are hurting, and we want to help, but we’re not always good at it. There is another way. In The Compassionate Connection, Dr. David Rakel explains how we can strengthen our bonds with others—all the while doing emotional and physical good for ourselves. As founder and director of the University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine program, Dr. Rakel discovered that we become the most effective helpers when we use the tool of human connection. Drawing on his own research and practice, as well as thirty years of published studies in medicine, sociology, psychology, meditation, and neuroscience, Dr. Rakel "stacks the deck" in favor of healing and introduces the concept of bio-psycho-spiritual authentic awareness. Not only are our bodies and minds connected, but also it has been scientifically proven that our capacity to feel beauty, awe, and compassion enhances our health and wellbeing. In The Compassionate Connection, Dr. Rakel provides an innovative approach to enhancing health in others and strengthening relationships through the art of connecting. These tools guide us to improve our connections—whether between doctor and patient, husband and wife, parent and child, or boss and employee—and live with clarity, wisdom, and good health.

Focus on Healing

Focus on Healing
Author: Sarita Charlene Johnson
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 108
Release: 2011-12
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 9781465395108

Have you been hurt, bruised or broken? These messages are intended to aid in the emotional healing of bruised and broken spirits. You may experience an emotional journey, one that may help to expand your awareness of life and of Emotional Healing. It is the author¡¦s hope that you can become emotionally uplifted and able to inspire and encourage others. "Focus on Healing is a wonderful book. It is full of inspirational quotes, valuable advice and words to live by. Reading it is good for the soul." Dan Liftman, Speak Write Associates, West Palm Beach, Florida "You are on your way! God bless! Stay on the path He has set out for you! You´ve got it! It´s great!" Janice Browne, Ph.D., Author, Inspirational Speaker, Professor, Nashville, Tennessee

The Battle for Compassion

The Battle for Compassion
Author: Jonathan Leighton
Publisher: Algora Publishing
Total Pages: 262
Release: 2011
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 0875868703

Six hundred years after Copernicus presented his revolutionary and heretical heliocentric theory, a sunset can still look unexpectedly new. What if the fate of our world depended on a similar shift in perspective? Synthesizing recent thinking from science, philosophy, psychology and economics with the author's own reflections on freedom, identity and morality, The Battle for Compassion offers a fresh, sweeping perspective on the human condition and a deep contemplation of the basis for our priorities at this critical moment in our history. The threats to our existence and the persistence of intense suffering are closely intertwined issues with similar underlying causes. Addressing them honestly requires us to reflect detachedly on who we are, probe the boundaries of ethical thinking, and ask some really big questions. What matters? What are the basic forces driving our species' trajectory, and where are they leading us? And what would it realistically take for us to preserve a future worth living in? These questions recur as we go through life and experience bliss and pain, the passing of time, the kindness and cruelty of our fellow humans, the monotony of routine and the shock of unanticipated change. This book ponders these pivotal questions and attempts to offer some answers.

Radical Compassion

Radical Compassion
Author: Tara Brach
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2019-12-31
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0525522824

One of the most beloved and trusted mindfulness teachers in America offers a lifeline for difficult times: the RAIN meditation, which awakens our courage and heart Tara Brach is an in-the-trenches teacher whose work counters today's ever-increasing onslaught of news, conflict, demands, and anxieties--stresses that leave us rushing around on auto-pilot and cut off from the presence and creativity that give our lives meaning. In this heartfelt and deeply practical book, she offers an antidote: an easy-to-learn four-step meditation that quickly loosens the grip of difficult emotions and limiting beliefs. Each step in the meditation practice (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) is brought to life by memorable stories shared by Tara and her students as they deal with feelings of overwhelm, loss, and self-aversion, with painful relationships, and past trauma--and as they discover step-by-step the sources of love, forgiveness, compassion, and deep wisdom alive within all of us.

Healing Emotional Pain Workbook

Healing Emotional Pain Workbook
Author: Matthew McKay
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2022-04-01
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 1648480233

Powerful and customizable tools grounded in process-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you heal emotional pain and live a vital, values-based life Do you struggle with overwhelming emotions, such as anger, anxiety, sadness, shame, or self-blame? Emotions—even intensely distressing ones—are a natural part of life. But if your emotions are so intense that they’re hurting your relationships or getting in the way of your happiness, it’s time for a change. Written by a team of mental health experts, Healing Emotional Pain Workbook is a step-by-step guide to understanding your emotions and enhancing your overall well-being. Rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment, this workbook takes a tailored approach to help you treat the root cause of your emotional pain—whether it’s avoidance, internalization, or rumination. As a result, you’ll create a personalized plan to help you overcome intense emotions and live the life you want. With this workbook, you’ll learn to: Stop avoiding and start showing up to your life Replace self-blame with self-compassion Make decisions based on your values, not your emotions Break free from repetitive negative thinking Increase psychological flexibility Accept your thoughts and emotions—rather than trying to outrun them! When our emotions spiral out of control, they can result in chronic mental suffering. This workbook can help you change the way you react to emotions, before they negatively impact your life.

Compassion

Compassion
Author: Christina Feldman
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Total Pages: 142
Release: 2016-08-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1930485581

Do you turn away from your own physical and emotional pain? Do you withhold empathy or give yourself away when witnessing another’s pain? Do you lash out or withdraw when you feel that someone has harmed you? Is it possible to learn to respond to rather than react against what feels unbearable? Drawing on her experience as a Buddhist practitioner and teacher, Christina Feldman asserts that it is possible, but only if we turn, time and again, toward compassion, which she describes as the "innate, natural condition of our hearts." She says, "You do not need to be a saint to find the grace and transformative power of compassion; you need only to be willing to pay attention to pain and its cause and to commit yourself to its end." She offers techniques for developing the capacity to hold adversity, loss, and pain—with love. Her guided meditations will teach you to cultivate and sustain compassion for the blameless, for those who cause suffering, for those whom you love, and for yourself.