Neurosurgeon’s Quest
Recent research suggests that evolution has pushed us toward a trait that binds communities and helps them prosper, and that altruistic acts promote individual well-being in biologically measurable ways.
Emerged from a disadvantaged background in the United States to become a neurosurgeon, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist–only to let his fortune go and dedicate his professional life to the scientific study of compassion and altruism.
In this workshop, he will share the practical tools that helped him on his journey to relax his body, tame his mind, open his heart and clarify his intent.
Compassionate Mind
Not only does compassion help us to cope and work with distressing emotions and situations, it also increases feelings of contentment and well-being. Professor Gilbert will outline the latest findings of the Compassionate Mind Foundation about the value of compassion and how it works, and introduce basic mind training exercises to enhance the capacity for, and use of, compassion.
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)–a process of developing compassion for the self and others to increase well-being and aid recovery–integrates techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy with evolutionary psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, Buddhist psychology and neuroscience.
Sustainable Compassion
Sustainable Compassion Training (SCT) cultivates three interrelated modes of care as a basis for compassionate action.
These three modes are:
- receiving care
- extending care to others
- deep self-care.
In this workshop, we will briefly present the basic science of care and compassion in relation to these modes, practice methods for receiving care, extending care, and enhancing care, and explore ways of strengthening our compassion practices in personal and professional lives.
