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We Are Earth
April 22, 2022
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First, From the Heart
Last evening there was a seal on the beach – the picture above speaks to its aliveness. When I returned to the ocean early this morning, I noticed a seal in the same spot. My heart sank. The beautiful creature had surely died, its body completely still. Witnessing the scene hit me especially hard on this Earth Day morning.
The precious moments I am gifted to visit the great ocean are full of awe. I am often overcome with the sense that I am not separate from the sea, its inhabitants, the birds that swirl above, or the land that kisses the water.
Last night, the seal sighting was full of joy. This morning, I was riddled with sorrow. Such is our capacity to feel and be with what is right in front of us. The lesson continued, as the lifeless pup suddenly began to move, waddling its way back to the water. Yes, so much to celebrate while also recognizing that the natural cycles of life and death are interwoven elements of the greater whole. May we remember that we, too, are simply part of nature unfolding in her infinite wisdom.
May peace be with you, always,
Laura
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Practice Matters
I Am That
Do I have a way to sense that I am the weeping willow swaying in the wind, the dolphin gliding through the ocean, and the diamonds underground formed millions of years ago? Can I recognize my belonging to the night sky full of stars, or to my human ancestors that first roamed the African plains?
Without conscious effort, my mind automatically labels and organizes. It has trouble, admittedly often, remembering the deeper truth of who I am. Thankfully, my indigenous sisters and brothers recognize the interbeing of everything. I so appreciate their ways of participating in life from this profound and sacred perspective.
I too have moments when I know I am that – the water, the grass, the stone, the creatures, and the stars. At first, the moments were fleeting. I sensed the wonder in every cell of my being. And so I practice, and slowly discover that I can orient myself to this way of being. When I am that, I am whole. When I am that, I am home. When I am that, I am love.
When can we practice? Always!
If you'd like to explore additional Practice Matters, you can find them here.
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Research Worth Sharing
Twelve Principles to Guide a Long-Overdue Paradigm Shift
by Isabel Rimanoczy and Ana Maria Llamazares
in Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, Volume 18, Number 6, December 2021, pp. 54-76(23).
How do we relate to ourselves, to each other, and to nature? If our behaviors are heavily influenced by the mindset within which we live, we can change our world by changing our mindset. The authors offer ways that we can bring our behavior back into balance by naming what has been shaping our behavior for centuries. By naming what is, they hope to incite readers' imaginations to what is possible. Read the research.
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Upcoming Event
Global Compassion Community Gathering
Free Community Event + Guest Speaker Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH
Join us as we explore the science behind the impact of serving others in order to build a more compassionate world. Our guest speaker is Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH, author of the influential Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference and the upcoming Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself.
Dr. Trzeciak is professor and chair of medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, and the chief of medicine at Cooper University Health Care. A practicing intensivist and clinical researcher, he’s been published more than 120 times in JAMA, Circulation, The New England Journal of Medicine, and more. His research has been supported by the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The event is co-hosted by Laura Berland, Founder of the nonprofit Center for Compassionate Leadership, and Monica Worline, co-author of Awakening Compassion at Work, and Research Scientist at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. Reserve your spot for this free event – Register now.
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Current Event – Runs Through Sunday!
Compassion In Therapy Summit 2022
Free Online Event April 20-24
We’re delighted to share this wonderful invitation to the second annual free online Compassion in Therapy Summit from our friends at The Awake Network and The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion. Last year’s event was chock full of science and wisdom applicable to our practice of compassionate leadership as well as to mental health professionals, and we’re excited to learn what’s new and emerging in the field.
If you want to hear the latest evidence, tools, and neuroscience around compassion, this FREE online event will be an opportunity to gather strength and inspiration, and learn how to successfully integrate mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion into your leadership, professional practice, and life.
This year’s lineup features inspiring and practical sessions with more than 25 world-renowned teachers including Kristin Neff, Chris Germer, Tara Brach, Roshi Joan Halifax, Paul Gilbert, Resmaa Menakem, Dan Siegel, Rick Hanson, Thupten Jinpa, Bessel van der Kolk, Rhonda Magee, Richard Davidson, Richard Schwartz, and many more…
These leading teachers will be offering fresh insights, evidence based practical tools, clinical demonstrations, and guided practices to support you in embodying compassion and better serving your clients and teams. You’re welcome to join one session, or tune in for all 25+ sessions. Reserve your spot for this free event – Register now.
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