Distress Tolerance Skills - VIDEO 18

The Importance of Compassion and Understanding the Human Mind

Compassion is a growing movement in various fields, such as business, education, law, and economics, to address the competitive and materialistic nature of society and the destruction of the environment.
The human mind and brain are built for us by our genes, and we are not responsible for the emotions and motivations built into them.
We recognize that we live for a relatively short time, and we need to pull together to help each other deal with the tragedies of life.
Our social environment shapes us, and we are only one version of ourselves. We need to understand that much of what goes on in our minds is not our fault.
Our brains have evolved over millions of years, causing us to have fantastic abilities, but also causing us a lot of trouble. Our brains have within them the same desires and motivations that many animals have, including basic emotions and motivational systems.
We have a new brain that allows us to imagine, think, use symbols, and plan, which can be a wonderful ability but can also drive us crazy.
Our imaginations and thinking can create loops that stimulate our feelings and influence how our bodies work. We have built-in biases to be self-focused and interested in our own genetic relatives.
Tribalism is the curse of humanity because it makes us incredibly cruel, and we need to understand our minds to avoid dangerous and cruel behavior.
Mental health problems are increasing, and depression is the second greatest burden of disease, following heart disease, and the greatest burden for women.
We need to become mindful and take control of our minds to organize them for compassion, which is a way to attend to our relationships with other people.
Our brains have evolved to deal with threats, and our most dominant system is our threat system, which takes control if we let it. We need to focus on the good in other people and ourselves to avoid mental health problems and depression.
Compassion is a motive that allows us to organize our minds and regulate and cultivate how our minds work. We are capable of some very dark things, but we are also capable of some wonderful things if we take control of our minds.The Importance of Compassion and Slowing Down
The human brain has a drive system that gives excitement and drives, which can take over the mind when highly activated.
Relationships and human connection are crucial to humans, and the experience of kindness and connectedness can calm down the sense of threat.
The affiliative system is essential for humans, and it can be helped in therapy to develop kindness for oneself and others and to reduce shame.
Compassion is not airy-fairy stuff, but it is based on a hard science understanding of how the brain regulates itself, and it can help regulate experiences of threat.
Compassion is the sensitivity to the suffering of self and others, and it requires two psychologies, the ability to approach, understand, and engage with suffering, and the ability to think about and understand how to bring the end to suffering.
Compassion is a relational process, and it requires certain qualities of mind, such as empathy, understanding, and recognition of other people's suffering.
Self-compassion is crucial and can stimulate areas of the brain that help in times of difficulty or suffering.
Slowing down the body is essential in developing compassion, and breathing exercises can help in slowing down the breath and calming the mind.
The media-generated society we live in is constantly speeding us up, and it is essential to slow down the mind to develop compassion.
Paying attention to facial expressions, such as a friendly face with a gentle half-smile, can help in developing compassion.
Compassion is what takes us into difficult areas, people we don't like, and the areas in our own minds that we don't like or are fighting with.
The ability to slow down, be compassionate, and regulate the affiliative system is crucial for mental health and well-being.Cultivating Compassion: A Practice for Finding Peace and Happiness
The practice involves changing facial expressions and voice tones to notice the subtle differences in the feeling created in the body.
The next step is to imagine being the most compassionate person possible, with wisdom, strength, and commitment.
Practicing this visualization regularly can help cultivate a compassionate mind.
Focusing on a loved one, wishing them peace and happiness, can bring feelings of joy and positivity.
Focusing on oneself and wishing for peace and happiness can be challenging, but it is important to cultivate self-compassion.
If there is resistance to self-compassion, it can be acknowledged and wished peace.
Finally, focusing on a difficulty and looking at it through the eyes of compassion can help cope with it.
Cultivating a compassionate self takes effort, but it can have huge payoffs.
Compassion is not about getting rid of difficult thoughts and emotions, but rather facing them with kindness and mindfulness.
Compassion takes courage and commitment, and offers the possibility of finding peace and happiness.
Regular practice of cultivating compassion can help soften difficulties and calm the threat system.
Compassion is about finding the strength and courage to face suffering, both within ourselves and in the lives of others.