"Compassion is the deep awareness of one's own and other beings' suffering, along with the desire to help prevent it"

During the month of May we will be working on compassion, an emotional skill that is very beneficial for social-emotional well-being and that is being widely studied in many universities around the world for its positive effects on a personal and social level.

In this Compassion Kit, we recommend books, articles, videos and more. We hope you enjoy them!

TED Talks

Compassion and the true meaning of empathy

Joan Halifax, a Buddhist rōshi, works with people in the last stage of their lives (in hospice and on death row). Here she shares what she learned about compassion in the face of death and dying, and an in-depth look at the nature of empathy.

Dare to Rewire Your Brain for Self-Compassion

When Weiyang Xie first came to the United States as an international student, she was excited to pursue her dreams, yet filled with overwhelming insecurity and anxiety. In her journey to becoming a psychologist, she dared to be vulnerable and face her fears and shame head-on. These have turned out to be Weiyang’s most helpful resources in overcoming challenges. In this talk, she will share her ingredients of self-compassion that can help audience members overcome shame in their own lives, empower them to take risks, and lead them to self-empowerment and authentic living.

Reimagining compassion as power

When we think of power, we think of force. But is force always the best option? Negotiator and trainer Tim Dawes demonstrates the power of compassion to influence, lead, and create better outcomes in business and everyday life. Using three remarkable and true stories, Tim shows how re-imagining compassion as a practical set of skills enables us to shift our relationships with adversaries, collaborate, and quickly invent new options we might never have considered before.

Podcasts

Let's Talk About... Self-Compassion | Let's Talk About Mental Health

If you want a better life, start with self compassion! Why? When you have limiting beliefs about yourself, rather than learning how to be self compassionate, it can be hard to see your strengths and positive attributes which can then have a damaging effect on your self esteem. Like, REALLY damaging. Because if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love someone else?! (Thanks RuPaul!) So, what is self compassion? Can you learn how to be more compassionate with yourself? And how do you do it? That’s what I’m talking about this week on… Let’s Talk About Mental Health — the weekly podcast about looking after your wellbeing, with simple ideas and mental health tips that you can put into practice immediately. So, let’s talk about self compassion!

Brené with Sonya Renee Taylor on "The Body is Not an Apology"

In this episode Sonya Renee Taylor and I talk about body shame, radical self-love, and social justice. This conversation was a big unlocking for me - especially when it comes to understanding the connection between how we think about our bodies and oppression.

Books

All About Love: New Visions

The acclaimed first volume in feminist icon bell hooks' "Love Song to the Nation,” All About Love is a revelation about what causes a polarized society and how to heal the divisions that cause suffering. Here is the truth about love, and inspiration to help us instill caring, compassion, and strength in our homes, schools, and workplaces. “The word ‘love’ is most often defined as a noun, yet we would all love better if we used it as a verb,” writes bell hooks as she comes out fighting and on fire in All About Love. Here, at her most provocative and intensely personal, renowned scholar, cultural critic and feminist bell hooks offers a proactive new ethic for a society bereft with lovelessness--not the lack of romance, but the lack of care, compassion, and unity. People are divided, she declares, by society’s failure to provide a model for learning to love.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself

Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them--in order to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family. But what do "healthy boundaries" really mean--and how can we successfully express our needs, say "no," and be assertive without offending others? Licensed counselor, sought-after relationship expert, and one of the most influential therapists on Instagram Nedra Glover Tawwab demystifies this complex topic for today's world. In a relatable and inclusive tone, Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple-yet-powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life. Rooted in the latest research and best practices used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), these techniques help us identify and express our needs clearly and without apology--and unravel a root problem behind codependency, power struggles, anxiety, depression, burnout, and more.

Articles

The Promise of Self-Compassion for Stressed-Out Teens

According to research by the psychologist Jean Twenge and others, depressive symptoms in teen girls increased by 50 percent between 2012 and 2015, and 21 percent in boys. The number of college students experiencing “overwhelming anxiety” increased to 62 percent in 2016 from 50 percent in 2011.

Enter self-compassion.

How to forgive someone who isn’t sorry

Forgiveness is often viewed as the “happily ever after” ending in a story of wrongdoing or injustice. Someone enacts harm, the typical arc goes, but eventually sees the error of their ways and offers a heartfelt apology. “Can you ever forgive me?” Then you, the hurt person, are faced with a choice: Show them mercy — granting yourself peace in the process — or hold a grudge forever. The choice is yours, and it’s one many of us assume starts with remorse and a plea for grace.

Recommendations

How and when to help a friend ask for help

When you start a conversation with a friend about whom you are concerned, the expected outcome is that they will acknowledge that they have been going through a difficult time, talk to you honestly about their situation, and be open to seeking help. As someone who is looking for support, what can you do to help?

What happens when you call the TQueremos Line? (This link is in spanish)

TQueremos Hotline 24/7

Tel. 800 813 9500

If you are studying abroad, please write to the following Whatsapp number (442 373 6559) mentioning that you are a Tec student and they will send you a link to call free of charge.