I'm not crazy about work books.
It's a 'me thing'. I prefer a book that requires my attention but
doesn't make demands of me. Things are simpler that way. But if I was to ever
recommend a workbook...Kristin Neff's Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself is a must.
Not only are the exercises accessible, they are essential. Each one
provides a strategy to engage with Self Compassion and bring yourself that much
closer a healthier and happier life.
The timing of this book was
perfect for me. I have been struggling with so many things and it felt
like there was no way out. I learnt that asking for help was a step in the
right direction but it is not enough. I cannot make my problems someone
else's burden. Yet even without a response from those I approached
there was a moment of relief. The understanding that I was not alone in
my struggle somehow made that struggle easier.
It is from reading Kristin Neff's
book that I now understand what was happening. In asking for help I did
two things; I acknowledged my suffering and I accepted that while I didn't have
an answer there were other that might. Two very important concepts in the
practice of self-compassion: common humanity and mindfulness. The third,
which I lacked (and could not fully comprehend) was self-kindness.
Being kind to myself felt like a
reward for 'bad behaviour'. If I was going to screw up, why would I say
to myself, "I am sorry that you are going through a hard time for the crap
you pulled"? It felt right to be angry with myself.
Yet after years of doing just that I had nothing to show for it. I
was ready for something new and with a little more scepticism than was
deserved, I set forth to make a real attempt at self-compassion.
I would have loved to
automatically find myself perfectly able to be compassionate with myself.
It is a slow going process (one I am unlikely to be done with any time
soon). But I have been furnished with tools that work and I am more than
ready to put them to use. Even after
only a few weeks, I can see a difference in how I relate to myself and,
even more surprising, how I relate to those around me.
