Guided by Compassion to Grow

Once again my friend Kuan Yin who has such love in her heart, she courageously quenched the fire of anger and misdirected power. She selflessly blessed souls aching for peace.

What are some of your strengths of character? Are you strong in hope, forgiveness, or resilience? Wise in perspective, growth-mindset oriented, creative or kind? High in openness to new experiences? A lover of learning? Expressing gratitude? Compassionate towards yourself and others? I've seen how important it is to have a positive sense of self to battle the heavy struggles of poor mental health. Unfortunately, after a long time of being 'patients' many people feel like pure pathology and have a dismal sense of self-worth/esteem. I often feel like that I see my "Lower Self" and "Healthier Self" that I have access to: Lower Self: Ill, self-destructive, uncaring, impulsive, consumptive, self-absorbed, holds self and others negatively, regressive etc Healthier Self: Goal-directed and creative, seeks meaning and purpose, respects self and others, is generous and kind in giving, is relational - seeks being love, cares, grows, has a forgiving, compassionate lens for self and others etc I see the need to cultivate 'antidotes' (through action) to lower selves, such as patience, humility, generosity, joy and clear seeing. Without access to, nurturing of, and growth of those Healthy Selves, one struggles with a persistent negative emotional devolution through life. If however one taps into their fundamental core of worthiness and embraces their good side, they have a way to 'undo' negative emotions by creating positive perspectives and emotions, they have positive selves to broaden-and-build with and create positive upward emotional spirals. This is well covered in an insightful article I recently did a simple course which inspired me to embrace a more ethical approach in my life. It is said post-traumatic growth occurs through:

• Kindness, Love, Compassion (improved relationships) Openness to new possibilities (curiosity, creativity, love of learning) Appreciation of Life (beauty, gratitude)

• Personal strength (bravery, honesty, perseverance)

• Spiritual development

"Through this process of learning, of analysing which thoughts and emotions are beneficial and which are harmful, we gradually develop a firm determination to change."

This process of inner transformation — selecting and focusing on positive mental states and challenging negative mental states — is liberating. It is from understanding our mind that we come to understand our emotions and their impact upon ourselves and others.

Compassion — a sense of concern for others that stems from feelings of equality with them — drives peace. It is "inner disarmament." We need compassion and affection to develop, sustain ourselves, and survive.

One begins learning to identify compassion's causes and conditions — qualities such as patience, tolerance, forgiveness, humility — and then learning to cultivate them.

When we begin to develop a genuine appreciation of the value of compassion, our outlook on others begins automatically to change... Where love of one's neighbour, affection, kindness, and compassion live, we find that ethical conduct is automatic. Ethically wholesome actions arise naturally in the context of compassion. To conclude some words from the Goddess of Compassion:

"You don’t have to become the storm. You don’t have to absorb the storm. It helps a great deal if a person can stay in that love and compassion consciousness on a daily basis—doing some kind of ritual involving forgiveness and gratitude.

If you can create a space in yourself to meditate on the good; on love, then you can hold the space of love and compassion for others to join in with you. When you practice this you will gradually be able to more and more recognize negativity and not be influenced by conflict."

“Gain strength. Suck up energy. Make a point of appreciating the fragrance of the flowers and the beauty of the sunset. It is like armor. When you take a moment to practice my message you can then be armed with an ability to be detached. One is meant to forgive, to forgive and be compassionate." ~ Kuan Yin