Kwan Yin - Kwan Yin - the Bodhisattva of Compassion - she has been referred to as the female Buddha. Her name translates to mean “the one who hears the cries of the world."
This beautiful sanded Kwan Yin statue was a gift from my husband this past Christmas. I have learnt about Kwan Yin from my yoga mentors over the years and the image of Kwan Yin has shown up quite often for me in the past while. Seeing her image is a reminder of compassion to myself and others. It is a key ingredient to our wellness that often seems missing when I begin my work with therapy clients. I notice that rather than having a compassionate attitude, my clients often begin therapy with a critical attitude towards themselves, their own experiences and emotional struggles. That is why I am committed to cultivating the practice of compassion and loving-kindness in my therapy sessions with clients. It is the foundation from which we all can thrive.
What does being compassionate mean to you? How do you show compassion to yourself? to others? How often are you being swept up in judgement towards others or self-criticism towards yourself? How can you show yourself compassion in the midst of self judgment or in the most difficult moments?
For those in a helping profession, how do you embody these qualities with yourselves and towards others (clients, patients, students, and others in your life)?
We all can benefit from more self-compassion and compassion directed outside of ourselves to our family, community and extending it out around the world.