March Read

Title: Make Peace with Your Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Free You From Your Inner Critic
Author: Coleman, Mark
Call Number:
Book Description from amazon.com
The inner critic is the voice inside our heads reminding us that we are never “good enough.” It’s behind the insidious thoughts that can make us second-guess our every action and doubt our own value. The inner critic might feel overpowering, but it can be managed effectively. Meditation teacher and therapist Mark Coleman helps readers understand and free themselves from the inner critic using the tools of mindfulness and compassion. Each chapter offers constructive insights into what creates, drives, and disarms the critic; real people’s journeys to inspire and guide readers; and simple practices anyone can use to live a free, happy, and flourishing life.
My Read:
As I close this book, the following sentence from the book stays with me:
"The emotion doesn't define who you are. It is simply a visitor."--Page 211
This sentence reminds me of one saying from one well-known Buddhist book called "金剛經."
It says: 應無所住而生其心.
This is what I understand: One shouldn't allow anything to register in the mind to bring about emotions.
Emotions ebb and flow. In real life people come and go. We shouldn't make any change of who we are to dance with them. We can simply observe and be mindful of what's happening. Visitors come and they will, eventually, leave us. And we stay for we are the master.