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Roadblock or Detour?
October 14, 2022
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First, From the Heart
We tend to like order, certainty, and linear progression. That’s why we plan and chart the course ahead. Yet how often does something fall out of place, go sideways, or blow up? Chaos consistently asserts itself – in life and in nature.
Do we react? Do we respond? When faced with the unexpected, calling up the compassionate response can sometimes be harder than giving in to a meltdown.
So we practice and learn to strengthen the pathways that elevate caring for ourselves and others. When I can honor and accept the pain or the mistake, and respond with lovingkindness, we all benefit. Our next Compassion Intensive is a powerful short course to up your practice. Led by our gifted colleague Laura Banks, we hope you find it a meaningful experience for yourself and for the greater good.
Big heart,
Laura
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Upcoming Program
Compassion Intensive
A Focused Exploration Into the Personal Practice of Compassion
Tuesdays, 11AM - 1PM ET, November 1 thru November 22, 2022
Recent neuroscience shows that compassion is both an innate capacity and a skill which can be trained and strengthened. Our 4-week online program led by Laura Banks condenses components of Compassion Institute’s 8-week Compassion Cultivation Training© course developed at Stanford CCARE. Our next experiential journey begins November 1 – Join us! Find out more and register.
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Best of the Blog
Burnout Moves From the Top Down
The COVID pandemic has exacerbated what was already a problem of epidemic proportions: burnout and overwhelm. As we emerge from the pandemic, will we learn the lessons of the costs of burnout and find better solutions as we move forward? Relieving burnout must start with organizations, and compassionate leaders can change their organizations by changing themselves. Read more.
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Research Worth Sharing
Surviving COVID-19: The Neuroscience of Smart Working and Distance Learning
by Giuseppe Riva, Brenda K. Wiederhold, and Fabrizia Mantovani
in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, Volume: 24 Issue 2: February 11, 2021
How does distance learning and smart working affect bosses/teachers' and workers/students' experiences? The authors of this paper used recent neuroscience research to explore how distance learning and smart working impact the following three pillars that reflect the organization of our brain and are at the core of school and office experiences: (a) the learning/work happens in a dedicated physical place; (b) the learning/work is carried out under the supervision of a boss/professor; (c) the learning/work is distributed between team members/classmates. Read the research.
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Upcoming Event
Radical Friendship in the Workplace: A Mindfulness Practice for Stressful Times
Free Online Event presented by Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) Center for Mindfulness and Compassion
Monday, October 17, 2022, 1PM - 2PM ET
When societal disruption leads to stress and overwhelm, the quality of our relationships can suffer – including those in the workplace. But if we are able to maintain and even strengthen our relationships during difficult times, they can help bolster our hearts and sustain our energy so that we can not only avoid burnout – we can also find the strength to keep pushing for societal transformation. Register here.
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Practice Matters
Roadblock or Detour?
While navigating an unintended route, did you ever encounter the sweetest little country café, or find yourself ooing and ahhing a breathtaking landscape? When the roadblock forces you to seek new directions, it might also bring some unexpected joy.
Interesting how when we hit an obstacle in life, we typically view it as a negative impediment – a clear signal that we’ve done something wrong or screwed up. Perhaps our inner critic has a field day, speaking to us with harsh, unforgiving language. We blame ourselves, looking for more evidence of why we are not good enough or made a bad decision.
What if we viewed each obstacle along the path as a detour, a delicious opportunity to explore a new approach? Or a nudge toward an even better solution? If you look back at many previous life challenges and curveballs, you might find that this has even been true for you. See if you can welcome each step with curiosity, open to any and all possibilities. Perhaps your next obstacle will be replaced with a magical detour. Explore the unintended territory to chart a new course with courage. And wrap yourself and all involved with fierce compassion.
When can we practice? Always!
If you'd like to explore additional Practice Matters, you can find them here.
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