What Compassionate Leaders Are Reading This Summer

What Compassionate Leaders
Are Reading This Summer
June 24, 2021

First, From the Heart

Last weekend marked celebrations for Father’s Day, Juneteenth, Solstice, and numerous Pride month events. These events help us acknowledge that we all long to be loved, be safe, be seen, be heard, be respected, and belong. Compassionate leaders create environments that allow these foundational human needs to flourish for everyone, including for themselves. We hope you found time to celebrate one or all!

This week we suggest five important books published in recent months that touch on these aspects of compassion in leadership and life. Kristen Neff, Scott Shute, Stan Steindl, Joey Weber, and Eugene T. Richardson provide fresh and insightful texts that help us expand our understanding of compassion and ourselves. Enjoy these, and please let us know what’s new on your compassionate leadership bookshelf.

Best of the Blog

Five Summer Reads for Compassionate Leaders

This group of five books offers a wide range of choices for compassionate leaders looking for new inspiration this summer. From highly anticipated books written by recognized leaders in self-compassion and compassion in the workplace, to practice- and growth-oriented books from professors in the UK and Australia, to a searing, creative account of the issues of colonialism in public health. Read one. Read them all. You can’t go wrong with any of these. Read more.

Research Worth Sharing

Trait Mindfulness and Self-Compassion as Moderators of the Association Between Gender Nonconformity and Psychological Health
by Shian-Ling Keng and Kenny Wei Lun Liew
in Mindfulness, DOI 10.1007/s12671-016-0639-0

There is a negative association between psychological health and the expression of gender in ways that do not match societal expectations. Self-compassion and mindfulness can each contribute to offsetting this impact of gender nonconformity. As we come to the end of Pride month, explore this research that offers encouragement through self-compassion. Read the research.

Practice Matters

Rest Safely in Love

When have you completely let go so that every cell in your body was at ease? When was the last time you had the feeling of melting into the trusting arms of life? Sometimes we feel safer in our apartments than in our hearts. Without the hammock of love holding us, it’s no surprise that we anchor into the sense of disconnection and loneliness that is so potent.

Perhaps we are fortunate to receive a sense of safety and love from a parent, friend, partner, or caregiver. Perhaps we are one of many humans who long to be loved just as we are but have yet to experience that moment of unconditional love with another. Know that our own safe harbor resides deep within us. It might be tangled up in trauma, blocked under old beliefs, or buried like unknown treasure. Know that unconditional love for yourself is only a breath and a heartbeat away. With intention, self-compassion, practice, and patience, we can reclaim infinite love and trust within ourselves.

When can we practice? Always!

Photo Credit: William Fortunato from Pexels.

Upcoming Events

Global Compassion Gathering – Free Community Event with guest Scott Shute
Attend online July 15

We invite you to celebrate our connection as a global community of compassionate friends and allies. We gather on 7/15 to align, inspire, and ignite our collective hearts and minds to birth a more compassionate world. Our guest presenter and practice leader is Scott Shute, Head of Mindfulness and Compassion at LinkedIn and author of the wonderful new book, “The Full Body Yes.” The event is co-hosted by Laura Berland, our Founder of the nonprofit Center for Compassionate Leadership, and Monica Worline, co-author of "Awakening Compassion at Work," Stanford University researcher with the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. Please register for the free event to reserve your spot. Find out more and register now.

Leadership, Evolved.

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