The word compassion is also of great importance in the work I do as the relationship we form with ourselves and the way we relate to our own stories, challenges and difficulties is central to our wellbeing. Everyone will experience pain in their lives, but suffering is a particularly human ability. Suffering is associated with the way we experience our own minds and which determines the way we deal with difficulties and challenges in life. The more critical and judgemental we are of ourselves, the more burdened we become. Bringing an attitude of compassion and loving attention to who we are, with our strengths and limitations, is key to how we develop important skills to help us recover and grow resilience when faced by life difficulties.
The goal of CFT is to alleviate suffering by developing your caregiving (compassion) system which allows you to live more comfortably in your own mind, regardless of what’s happening in the external environment. The care-giving system has the qualities of non-judgment, strength, warmth, empathy, wisdom, kindness, and moral courage.