“In this beautifully written book, esteemed clinical psychologist and therapist Stan Steindl takes us on a personal journey into the ups and downs of what it is to be human and reveals both the challenges and the joys of building one’s compassionate mind.”
— Professor Paul Gilbert OBE, Founder of Compassion Focused Therapy and bestselling author
But did you know that a lot of that suffering comes from within? Rumination and self-criticism are uniquely human thought processes, developed over hundreds of thousands of years. Our brains evolved into an impressive and complex organ that helped us to survive a primitive world, and yet today may yell at us with harsh and hostile criticism, sometimes even over the smallest thing!
In fact, critical self-talk is very common. And it flies just under the radar of our conscious mind — condemning and undermining us with its inner voice. This book will show you how to do better — to turn anguish into delight through the use of our Compassionate Self.
Through a clear series of steps and practices, noted clinical psychologist Dr Stan Steindl explains how compassion evolved as a vital part of our nature and thought, and the way we look after one another, and even ourselves. He then shows how to use our compassion as a key to a healthier mental life.
The Gifts of Compassion Personal Practice Workbook
This personal practice workbook is designed to accompany ‘The Gifts of Compassion: How to understand and overcome suffering’ and helps immensely with ensuring theory is put into practice. Following the same chapter structure as the book, it presents a series of exercises and activities designed to deepen your understanding and practice of compassion for others, receiving compassion from others, and offering compassion to yourself and your own challenges and struggles. It provides the opportunity to think and reflect on your own life experiences and put into practice various strategies to enhance the cultivation of your compassionate mind. As you work through activities such as Exploring your fears, blocks and resistances or Getting to know your shame you will tap into your intrinsic wisdom and allow it to flow onto the page, build your inner strength with each turn of the page, and arrive at your committed actions, the steps you will take to live a more compassionate life. So, grab your copy of The Gifts of Compassion: How to understand and overcome suffering, open up this workbook, and get underway on your compassionate journey to a healthier mental life.