The Compassion Initiative: Just Two Guys in Brisbane talking Compassion. www.thecompassioninitiative.com.au

On the 17 November 2019, I published my first Compassion in a T-Shirt video titled “Understanding fears, blocks and resistances to compassion, and how to work through them”. You can see that first, slightly dodgier video here.

All this time later, I am excited to return to the topic of working with fears, blocks and resistances to compassion because we have just had a new paper published in the journal Counselling and Psychotherapy Research titled “Therapist perspectives on working with fears, blocks and resistances to compassion in compassion focused therapy.”

The paper is open access, so if you like you can access a copy of it via the link below! I’ll give you a summary of the paper, and the concluding five preliminary guidelines to working with fears, blocks and resistances. So let’s dive into the paper and see what it might have to offer!

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

LINKS:

2019 YouTube Video: Understanding Fears, Blocks and Resistances to Compassion, and How to Work Through Them.

https://youtu.be/5jKxI1zp1Gg

Steindl et al (2022): Therapist perspectives on working with fears, blocks and resistances to compassion in compassion focused therapy

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/capr.12530

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VIDEO URL:

https://youtu.be/OUqj9lLwZhs

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Video hashtags

Compassion, self-compassion, compassion focused therapy, cft, Paul Gilbert, fears of compassion

No matter what might be going on around you, or in the world at large, even when the suffering of others seems so much greater, it is always important to occasionally turn to yourself, check in, see how you are going, notice suffering of your own and begin to direct compassion towards yourself.

In this video, we will practice a guided imagery exercise designed to help you move into your compassionate self, and then, through imagery, direct compassion towards your usual day-to-day self. Give it a try, and let me know what you think.

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

MUSIC:

Fluidscape by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100393

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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YOUTUBE VIDEO URL:

https://youtu.be/T9J8mDsohjM

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VIDEO HASHTAGS:

compassion, self-compassion, imagery, meditation, exercise, loving-kindness, self-care, suffering

Compassion as an evolved human motivation is not the same as compassion being our default motivation. Compassion, a sensitivity to suffering in self and others with a commitment to try to alleviate or prevent it, is actually rather uncommon and gets outmaneuvered quite often by other equally evolved, equally human motivations. So we gotta practice compassion, on purpose, everyday!

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Compassion in a T-Shirt

LINKS:

https://oilprice.com/

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YouTube Video URL:

https://youtu.be/QRzoY9w1nhM

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compassion, self-compassion, suffering, anxiety, anger, competition, drive, three circles, compassion focused therapy, cft

It feels like suffering is everywhere at the moment. The COVID pandemic continues to engulf the world, Russia has invaded Ukraine, causing untold suffering, and last week, here in Australia, up and down the east coast, we have had terrible storms and floods, wreaking havoc on homes and business, and the tragic loss of life. And so compassion is more important than ever. The wisdom, strength, courage and commitment to understand suffering, approach it, and try to be helpful.

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

LINKS:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-cases.html

https://www.axios.com/ukraine-refugees-russian-invasion-un-9f8b6e8e-87ed-4a5b-b7e9-d9229b373dca.html

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YOUTUBE VIDEO URL:

https://youtu.be/V27A9ZlqBnc

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SUFFERING, COMPASSION, COVID, PANDEMIC, WAR, FLOODS

"We have very little time. This is a life and death issue for all of us. Can we stop the drift toward destruction? We all have a responsibility in answering this question. It is to carry out my personal share of this responsibility that I have spoken out so strongly. I intend to continue. I hope you will join me - and millions of others - in working for a stop to our terrible insanity - the trend toward nuclear war.” ~ Dr Carl Rogers

All of that is still so true today. No ordinary person going about they day wants war, nuclear or otherwise! Let’s join Rogers and so many millions of others, band together, and work towards stopping our terrible insanity!

Peace and love to everyone.

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

LINKS

Rogers, C. R. (1982). A Psychologist Looks at Nuclear War: Its Threat, Its Possible Prevention https://doi.org/10.1177%2F002216788202200402

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YouTube Video URL:

https://youtu.be/0P6XKLUnsqg

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Video hashtags

War, psychology, dialogue, Carl Rogers

People everywhere are lovely, so why do we have wars? And why does it feel like we might be on the brink of one right now? Goodness knows I don’t know the answer to that. But let’s have a think about it from an evolutionary point of view, and see if there is anything we can do to create a more compassionate world.

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

LINKS TO PAPERS

Gilbert (2021). Creating a Compassionate World: Addressing the Conflicts Between Sharing and Caring Versus Controlling and Holding Evolved Strategies https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.582090/full

The song "War" originally written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and a number 1 hit for Edwin Starr in 1970. "War" was performed in concert by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in 1985 during his Born in the USA tour. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(The_Temptations_song)#Edwin_Starr_version

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YouTube Video URL:

https://youtu.be/k9D1ZpCf8rc

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#compassion #self-compassion

We have moral obligations. But what are they? And is compassion one of them?

In this video I am going to extend myself a little into the realm of ethics and morality! No easy task. But the more I have been thinking about compassion, the more I have begun to wonder, is compassion in fact a moral obligation?

In other words, is compassion, and especially taking compassionate action, something we are morally obliged to do? So let’s dive in and have a think about all that. I suspect this video will provide more questions than answers, but let’s see how we go.

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

Books and Articles Mentioned:

Gilbert and Choden 2013, Mindful Compassion

https://www.amazon.com.au/Mindful-Compassion-GILBERT-PROF-PAUL/dp/1626250618/ref=sr_1_4?crid=CF5L0JJSD75M&keywords=mindful+compassion&qid=1644742316&sprefix=mindful+compassion%2Caps%2C341&sr=8-4

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https://youtu.be/2X5TQ53h8V4

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#compassion #moralobligation #veganism #vegetarianism #Australiaday

Last week I spoke about 5 evidence-based benefits to mental health of compassion focused therapy. But compassion focused therapy and compassionate mind training have benefits at a general community level as well, promoting psychological well-being in all sorts of people in all sorts of ways. So check this out: Five more evidence-based benefits of compassion focused therapy… in our community!

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

LINKS TO ARTICLES:

Kirby & Tellegen (2020)

https://www.amazon.com.au/Making-Impact-Mental-Health-Psychological-ebook/dp/B08DC4B9NM/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1CIKYTGM3LY51&keywords=making+an+impact+on+mental+health&qid=1644064689&sprefix=making+an+impact+on+mental+health%2Caps%2C273&sr=8-2

Maratos et al (2019)

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-019-01185-9

Matos et al (2021)

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-021-01778-3

O’Driscoll & McAleese (2021)

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/capr.12447

Kotera and Van Gordon (2021)

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.630798/full

Matos et al (2022)

Compassion Protects Mental Health and Social Safeness During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across 21 Countries

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12671-021-01822-2

Matos et al (2021)

Fears of compassion magnify the harmful effects of threat of COVID-19 on mental health and social safeness across 21 countries

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpp.2601

Matos et al (2021)

The role of social connection on the experience of COVID-19 related post-traumatic growth and stress

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0261384

Irons & Heriot-Maitland (2020)

https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/papt.12320

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compassion, self-compassion, compassion focused therapy, cft, compassionate mind training, cmt, schools, workplace, COVID19

Learning how to cultivate compassion through an approach like compassion focused therapy (CFT) can have profoundly positive effects on mental health. So, in today’s video I’m going to give you 5 evidence-based benefits of compassion focused therapy! There are others!! But let’s start with five.

TARGETED PLAYLIST:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

RESEARCH LINKS:

Gilbert and Irons (2005):

https://www.amazon.com.au/Compassion-Conceptualisations-Research-Use-Psychotherapy/dp/158391983X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LG3JO4XRN9G1&keywords=Compassion%3A+Conceptualisations%2C+Research+and+Use+in+Psychotherapy.&qid=1643522516&sprefix=compassion+conceptualisations+research+and+use+in+psychotherapy+%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1

Leaviss and Uttley (2012):

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/psychotherapeutic-benefits-of-compassionfocused-therapy-an-early-systematic-review/6E1FB22CFABD2B96AC7DE0B473774F9F

Gama Cavalcanti, Steindl, Matos and Boschen (2021):

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-021-01510-3?wt_mc=Internal.Event.1.SEM.ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst&utm_source=ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst&utm_medium=email&utm_content=AA_en_06082018&ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst_20210226

Kirby, Tellegen and Steindl (2017):

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005789417300667

Craig, Hiskey and Spector (2021):

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14737175.2020.1746184

Matos, Duarte, Duarte, Pinto-Gouveia, Petrocchi and Gilbert (2021):

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-021-01717-2

Matos and Steindl (2020):

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jclp.23055

Carter, Gilbert and Kirby (2020):

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cpp.2488

Ashfield, Chan and Lee (2021):

https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/papt.12275

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Video hashtags

Compassion, Self-compassion, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Self-criticism, Shame, Trauma, compassion focused therapy, CFT, compassionate mind training, CMT

Compassion focused therapy is an evolutionary model of psychotherapy. We have these evolved brains and bodies, and both can be very tricky and cause us a lot of suffering: emotionally, physically, socially and so on.

But CFT proposes that compassion also evolved as an innate aspect to human nature. Compassion is there, within us, and we can learn about it and practice it and go a long way towards embodying it in our lives. And, of course, a compassionate motivation is aimed at helping us suffer less.

But how can we be so sure compassion evolved as part of the species and isn’t, in fact, a more recent addition, something related to being more civilised, perhaps?

TARGETED PLAYLIST LINK:

Compassion in a T-Shirt

BOOKS AND OTHER LINKS

The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Origin-Species-Charles-Darwin/dp/0451529065/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2AWPGPBG3D72U&keywords=origin+of+species&qid=1642388219&s=books&sprefix=origin+of+specie%2Cstripbooks%2C237&sr=1-8

Cosmos by Carl Sagan:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Cosmos-Cosmic-Evolution-Science-Civilisation/dp/0349107033/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22F6WRKW7A8J2&keywords=cosmos+carl+sagan+book&qid=1642388113&s=books&sprefix=carl+sagan+cosmos%2Cstripbooks%2C215&sr=1-1

How Compassion Made Us Human by Penny Spikins:

https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Compassion-Made-Human-Archaeology/dp/1781593108/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZZ7JRXYPKWX4&keywords=How+Compassion+Made+us+Human&qid=1642382707&sprefix=how+compassion+made+us+human%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-1

Compassion: Concepts, Research and Application edited by Paul Gilbert:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Compassion-Concepts-Applications-Paul-Gilbert/dp/1138957194/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JAA0WQLQLF4Q&keywords=compassion+concepts+research+practical&qid=1642382746&sprefix=compassion+concepts+research+practical%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-1

Homo Ergaster summarised by The Australian Musem

https://australian.museum/learn/science/human-evolution/homo-ergaster/

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Video hashtags:

#compassion #evolution