Resonating

Resonating
August 12, 2022

First, From the Heart

In a world where it’s hard to hear each other, or to honor another’s point of view, the idea of resonating with those around us seems especially urgent. By definition, resonating means to relate harmoniously. The words alone feel like an exhale in an overstressed and anxious environment.

At work, finding a way to resonate with our teams, bosses, customers, and communities may often feel like an impossible hurdle. If you, like many others, have an uncompassionate boss or colleague to deal with day in and out, how can you catalyze a shift in the relationship?

The science we share this week, along with our thoughts in the Blog and Practice Matters, point us right back inside ourselves. Resonance, harmony, and alignment emanate from our inner landscape. With a compassionate lens, we can relate and resonate differently. At a minimum, our own compassionate resonance will positively shift the field between us and another. That alone is a welcome first step toward harmony.

In peace,
Laura

Best of the Blog

My Uncompassionate Boss

One of the most common questions we are asked at the Center for Compassionate Leadership is, “What do I do if my boss is not compassionate?” Navigating a compassionate path with an uncompassionate boss or other person is never easy. Let’s explore how to courageously take on this challenge, and in so doing, perhaps discover a new level of mastery in compassionate leadership. Read more.

Research Worth Sharing

Social Intelligence and the Biology of Leadership
by Daniel Goleman and Richard Boyatzis
in Harvard Business Review, September 2008

Actions that we take – exhibiting empathy and attuning ourselves to another’s moods – affect not only our own brains, but those of the other as well. By understanding what goes on in our brains and the brains of those to whom we are connected, compassionate leaders are able to respond in productive, helpful ways in all situations. Read the research.

Practice Matters

I See You

We each show up in life with our unique combination of strengths, weaknesses, gifts, and talents. What is present in our DNA, passed down from generations that came before us? What is learned in our formative environments from our parents, caregivers, and friends? To what extent do societal norms and cultural practices also shape us? Our thoughts, beliefs, and expression of who we are become a compilation of all the internal and external exposures we’ve encountered up until this very moment.

So much of our human experience is particular to our individual circumstances. And yet so much of our experience resonates within our shared humanity. When we find ourselves on opposite shores of the ocean, we remedy separation by feeling that which we know is deep within each other. With courage and curiosity, we cross the divide. No judgment. No expectations. Wishing for understanding and compassion, we offer lovingkindness. We let go and trust in love. Peace.

When can we practice? Always!

If you'd like to explore additional Practice Matters, you can find them here.

Upcoming Event

University of Minnesota Earl. E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing:
Self-Care Superpowers Nurses Need to Lead Systems Change
Thursday August 18, 2022 12:00 p.m. CDT

This free webinar highlights the power nurses and health care providers already have to use self-care strategies to improve well-being and resilience and at the same time start to heal the broken health care system. Beginning with simple techniques to use at the bedside and with colleagues, using these superpowers reveals many evidence based positive outcomes.

Please note that this webinar is only open to nurses and health professionals.
This will be a rebroadcast of Dr. Fontaine's talk delivered during the recent International Integrative Nursing Symposium. A live Q&A with Dr. Fontaine will follow. Find out more and register.

Leadership, Evolved.

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