Managing Depression with Mindfulness for Dummies by Robert Gebka

Author:Robert Gebka
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781119029564
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2015-09-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Reconnecting with the Heart of Self-Compassion

In This Chapter

Understanding the benefits of cultivating self-compassion

Getting to know the process involved

Developing a sense of what self-compassion feels like

Self-compassion, or the act of being kind to ourselves, is something that does not come easily for most people. Yet evidence strongly suggests that the practice of self-compassion does not only improve recovery from depression but also enhances our sense of wellbeing and happiness.

The struggle to cultivate and open a kind heart towards ourselves is shared by most people in modern society, and is not only limited to people affected by depression. Many people struggle with self-compassion because of a lack of nurture and parental love during childhood, but more so perhaps because as a society we place too much value on the intellect and not nearly enough value on cultivating a loving heart. Even though this struggle is common to us all, those of us living with depression often experience this lack of self-compassion more violently and more intensely than people who are not affected by the condition. The good news is that we can learn how to generate feelings of loving kindness and compassion towards ourselves.

What is self-compassion and what is the value of cultivating it? How can we begin to explore it in a real and authentic way for ourselves? Developing loving kindness through mindfulness is a progressive and gradual experience that can help us live well and it is through this chapter that I wish to invite you, if you care to, to explore this for yourself.

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