RAIN and the psychology of self compassion
Mar. 6th, 2021 12:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flamingswordSo y'all know I like to study the cognitive sciences for fun, and one of the things that I like particularly is what's called Positive Psychology, the study of happiness, and as opposed to the study of how to not be miserable, it actually focuses on the habits and approaches of people who have the full range of emotions from miserable to joyous, but trend generally towards producing fulfilled lives. People with terrible mental illnesses can lead fulfilled lives and be happy (a la Space Mom). So on this episode of The Happiness Lab podcast Dr. Laurie Santos is talking to Tara Brach, a teacher of meditation and mindfulness, about her RAIN approach.
RAIN: Recognize - Allow - Investigate - Nurture
Recognize what is happening;
Allow the experience to be there, just as it is;
Investigate with interest and care;
Nurture with self-compassion.
And I am currently trying to work on the fears from my last post to see if I can respond to those fears with anything other than tension and anxiety.
I recognize that I have a lot of fear and helplessness, and I name them.
I allow the fear and helplessness to be what they are, and I feel them.
I investigate where I feel them in my body and my mind, as a tension in my shoulders plus a coldness in my stomach, and as a tangled place in my ability to judge risks and estimate chances, and I don't blame myself wanting to avoid myself.
I nurture and trust in my ability to weather these feelings and be resilient, and then let them go when it is appropriate.
My worth is not conditional on my always facing my problems immediately, even if it is not the best decision. I recognize the difference between making a bad decision and being a bad person. I forgive myself for doing the easy thing in between the times when I am mentally prepared to do the hard thing, and I recognize that my ability to do the hard things grows with my ability to be compassionate and not overload myself with blame.
In other news, the Ten-Stitch Blanket that I am working on in teal, blue and green.
RAIN: Recognize - Allow - Investigate - Nurture
Recognize what is happening;
Allow the experience to be there, just as it is;
Investigate with interest and care;
Nurture with self-compassion.
And I am currently trying to work on the fears from my last post to see if I can respond to those fears with anything other than tension and anxiety.
I recognize that I have a lot of fear and helplessness, and I name them.
I allow the fear and helplessness to be what they are, and I feel them.
I investigate where I feel them in my body and my mind, as a tension in my shoulders plus a coldness in my stomach, and as a tangled place in my ability to judge risks and estimate chances, and I don't blame myself wanting to avoid myself.
I nurture and trust in my ability to weather these feelings and be resilient, and then let them go when it is appropriate.
My worth is not conditional on my always facing my problems immediately, even if it is not the best decision. I recognize the difference between making a bad decision and being a bad person. I forgive myself for doing the easy thing in between the times when I am mentally prepared to do the hard thing, and I recognize that my ability to do the hard things grows with my ability to be compassionate and not overload myself with blame.
In other news, the Ten-Stitch Blanket that I am working on in teal, blue and green.