By Tara Brach
I listened to the audio book after Heather mentioned it in the Untethered Soul conversation. She preferred Brach’s treatment of the material to Singer’s. I think I am the opposite, but we both agree that it likely has to do with the order that we consumed them. I’ve been through many books on mindfulness, so Radical Acceptance didn’t offer much new to me. If it was toward the front of that list, I might’ve rated it higher and lowered the rating of something else for being more of the same. I’m still glad that I listened to it. Even when the ideas didn’t strike me as new, I appreciated the reminders. Brach regularly referred to “the trance” that people operate in when they are not being aware and mindful. Listening to the book helped remind me that I was in that trance and to make some efforts to get out of it.
I appreciated the meditations about forgiveness and loving kindness. I intend to work them into my meditation practice. It was helpful to me when she noted that there may be people who you’re not ready to extend forgiveness or loving kindness to. There’s value in setting the intention: I want to forgive them. Coming back to that can help the path toward actual, genuine forgiveness. The expanding circles of loving kindness was similarly helpful. First, meditate on those easiest to feel loving kindness before and then expand out to those less easy, the neutrals, and eventually the tough folks. Amy talks to me about finding compassion for myself and the challenging people in my life. This is in line with that. Also, in line with Amy’s metaphor of strength training my meditation muscle. Through effort of developing mindfulness and compassion, I can improve my ability to experience both which will help me feel better and be better towards others.
I don’t think this is the book that I’ll come back to the next time I need a mindfulness and compassion reminder, but it was a fine option for now.