Seek and you will find…
We have the capacity to be compassionate, but it is not always as easy as you might think, and I am the first to admit I am not always compassionate and kind to myself and, if I’m totally honest, not always to others either, but recently I read a book by Paul Gilbert that resonated with me on many levels, but one page stood out because he encourages you to visualise ‘Your Ideal Image’ and in Sophro Balance we also meet our special guide, so this exercise has helped me re-visualise my own ideal image.
“Compassion can be defined in many ways, but its essence is a basic kindness, with a deep awareness of the suffering of oneself and of other living things, coupled with the wish and effort to relieve it.”
–The Compassionate Mind, by Paul Gilbert–
This particular exercise (page 293) is about building your compassionate image intended for you to work with key areas of the mind and you can have more than one image if you wish, but whatever comes to you should be your own ideal image. Something or someone who represents feelings of being cared for, supported or encouraged. Remember to include the following qualities to give your image more meaning:
- Wisdom
- Strength
- Warmth
- Non-judgement
As you progress through the suggestions below and the audio think about these qualities and imagine them fully with all your senses:
Firstly…focus on the breath going in and the breath going out, smile to yourself then let the images come to mind and if your mind wanders then returning to the breath, practising self-compassionate acceptance as you go…
These questions might help you:
- What would you want your caring/supporting image to feel/look/seem like: old/young; male/female; human or non-human? (eg animal/tree/or favourite object)
- What colours and sounds are associated with the qualities of wisdom, strength, warmth and non-judgement? (If only a colour comes to you then that’s fine, this is a great start!)
- How would you like your ideal caring/compassionate image to look? (that is, what should it look like)
- How would you like your ideal caring/compassionate image to sound? (eg voice/tone)
- What other qualities does your ideal caring/compassionate image have? (eg think sensory)
- How would you like your ideal caring/compassionate image to relate to you?
- How would you like to relate to your ideal/compassionate image?
By experimenting with ‘Your Ideal Image’ you could conjure up either a male or a female gender which can be helpful to explore, or you may wish to blend both genders if the mood takes you. Perhaps you may find it difficult to find an image so try focusing on the sound of a compassionate voice, or softly spoken, and it can be helpful for you to fnd a picture of someone or something you are drawn to, using that image to get you started.
With that in mind, here is an audio recording of a Sophro Balance practice I do where you meet your Animal Guide, a favourite of mine, but even more so since using this technique that Professor Gilbert advocates as it has enabled me to visualise my guide more vividly, so take a seat, relax and enjoy meeting yours…
Contact me for advice on how Sophro Balance could benefit your personal journey of change and transformation.
Please leave a comment, like or share this post with others would also be greatly appreciated! Thank you for reading…
SOPHRO BALANCE for Wellbeing 
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