Learn how to increase your own capacity for compassion toward yourself and others and make the world a better place in the process.
In this episode I share some of the research and articles I’ve been reading in the book Compassion: Bridging Practice and Science, edited by Tania Singer and Matthias Bolz. It seems to be that we are in need of greater compassion as a society right now to help us cope with our current adversities and grow stronger in love and kindness in the process. I have some poems and practices to share that hopefully will inspire all of us to higher consciousness. View Tania Singer’s website:
This episode includes:
- Why we need more compassion in our society right now
- 5 reasons why we are “failing” at compassion
- The difference between empathy and compassion according to researchers
- Why overdoing empathy can lead to burnout while practicing compassion can prevent it
- The positive benefits of compassion practices
- How and why to begin practicing self-compassion
- The difference between self-compassion and self-esteem
- Study results on using the Lovingkindness Meditation (Metta) as a regular practice
- Mantras to use for self-compassion and Lovingkindness
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Books by Tania Singer
- Sign up for the 2021 online reading group A Year of Reading Dangerously at this link
- Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul
- Subscribe to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Stitcher Radio
- Check out the Series I’ve recorded in the past here
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If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes! Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, especially my newest supporters Stefanie Elkins and Claire Murphy Jones! Your contributions make all the difference!
In this episode I share a powerful and heartfelt interview with Ken Wilber where we discuss the subject of 
I’m still in Italy as this broadcast airs but will be returning to Colorado in a few days. Check out the photos from my last days of travel on 
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This podcast is supported through generous contributions on my page at 
Check out Gia’s Zen Quest Guided Meditation CD if you’d like some help getting your practice started:
In this episode I share an interview with Joe DiNardo who talks about his book A Letter to My Wife and discusses how his long-term practice of mindfulness meditation helped him cope with being a caregiver and grieving his wife’s death.
Joe is also the author of the newly released book A Letter to My Wife, which follows his journey with late wife Marcia, from cancer diagnosis through death. The website states that “His practice of mindfulness is explored throughout this heartfelt dedication and serves as the foundation for his recommendations on coping with loss and healing. His story, which includes both practical advice and profound wisdom, is a real-life example of how powerful and guiding meditation can be during life’s painful and challenging chapters. ”