“Compassion” and “empathy” have become self-help buzzwords lately, with the recent rise of TED-talk superstars like researcher, author, and speaker Brené Brown. But what does it actually mean to practice compassion towards oneself and others, and how can we use these tools to take better care of our relationships? Here are some library resources for practicing self-compassion and compassion towards others whose messages ring especially true during times of social crisis and isolation.
Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and your World With the Practice of RAIN, by Tara Brach
This book is currently a popular Peak Pick, and although it’s not available to be checked out in person for the time being, it is still accessible online with your library card! Written by celebrated mindfulness instructor Tara Brach, Radical Compassion teaches readers a mindfulness practice called RAIN – Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture – designed to help us become more compassionate towards ourselves. You might find Brach’s tools helpful if you are dealing with loss of a loved one or a past relationship, working through past trauma, or simply trying to cope with the ongoing trauma of living during a pandemic.
Compassion: Art 21 – Art in the Twenty-First Century (Season 5)
And now for something completely different! This short made-for-TV documentary film showcases works from three different contemporary artists multidisciplinary which explore themes of reconciliation, tolerance, justice, and working through the challenges of the past. The artists are South African multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker William Kentridge, Colombian visual artist Doris Salcedo, and American artist Carrie Mae Weems. Throughout the hour-long film, viewers get to watch bits and pieces of each artist’s process as they use their expressive mediums to practice compassion in their own unique way. This film is available to stream with your library card via the Access Video database – simply follow the link in the catalog and log in using your library card barcode and PIN number to watch it.
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brené Brown.
No post on compassion would be complete without sharing something by Brené Brown. Published in 2012, Daring Greatly is one of Brown’s older books, but this text contains some of her best writing on compassion. Through a well-balanced mix of personal stories and information from her own scientific research, Brown shows readers how taking the risk to be vulnerable in personal and professional relationships can help us become stronger and more fulfilled in those relationships. At a time when many of us are feeling vulnerable and struggling with huge changes to our daily routines, Brown’s book is a much-needed reminder that sometimes, the most compassionate thing we can do for ourselves and others is to be brave enough to allow them to see our imperfections and fears.
~ Posted by Hannah P.
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