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Can You Care Too Much?
December 2, 2022
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First, From the Heart
How did we arrive in December already? I, along with many others, feel the swirl of time and space accelerating with each moment. Sometimes it feels like we are being swept along by forces beyond ourselves. I long to be present to the flow, but also rooted and grounded in my very being.
Yesterday during our monthly alumni gathering, I shared my morning encounter with a majestic osprey as I walked by the sea. Awestruck by the still presence of the osprey hanging motionless mid-air despite the blustery force of high winds, I kept walking toward it to get a better look. Soon its still presence engulfed me. My feet stopped moving and my mind slowed as I tuned into the hawk. The space between us seemed to dissolve, and maybe for a brief moment I felt as though we were one and the same.
As each alum in the group spoke, the idea of finding the stillness in these times of challenge and holiday mayhem emerged as a shared intention. One by one we acknowledged the increasing intensity surrounding us, and our individual approaches to slowing down and taking care of our own needs. Together we were creating a way through the weeks ahead with the support of compassionate community and care.
Next week for our quarterly Global Community Compassion Gathering, we are delighted to welcome back Dr. Sara King to explore Trauma in the Workplace and how to create the way through. Join us live if you can, or register to receive the recording. I look forward to our time together in community to practice, heal, and slow down.
Be gentle and brave,
Laura
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Upcoming Event
Global Compassion Community Gathering
Trauma in the Workplace: The Science of Social Justice
1:00PM - 2:30PM EST | 18:00 – 19:30 UTC December 6, 2022
Join us 12/06 for our next Global Compassionate Community Gathering as together we explore Trauma in the Workplace: The Science of Social Justice. Our returning guest speaker is Sará King, M.A., Ph.D., who will talk about how well-being and social justice are one and the same – especially when we re-define “justice” as “loving-awareness-in-action.”
Dr. King is a mother, a neuroscientist, political and learning scientist, education philosopher, social-entrepreneur, public speaker, and certified yoga and mindfulness meditation instructor. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow in Neurology at Oregon Health Science University, a Garrison Institute Fellow, and a core member of Google’s well-being think tank “Vitality Lab.” She is also the founder of MindHeart Consulting, leading the field that intersects neuroscience, social justice, and art to heal intergenerational trauma.
The free, 90-minute online 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 The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education | CCARE at Stanford University. Find out more and register.
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Best of the Blog
Can You Care Too Much?
As a compassionate person and a compassionate leader, caring is a core value that motivates us and shapes our purpose. Yet when our caring impulses exceed our caring capacity, we burn out. Here are strategies to make sure that we fulfill our caring motivations in the most beneficial way. Read more.
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Research Worth Sharing
Association of Physicians’ Self-Compassion with Work Engagement, Exhaustion, and Professional Life Satisfaction
by Oksana Babenko, Amber D. Mosewich, Ann Lee, and Sudha Koppula
in Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) 2019 Feb; 7(2): 29.
The results of this study confirmed the hypothesized associations, indicating that “self-compassionate physicians experienced more positive work engagement, felt less emotionally, physically, and cognitively exhausted due to work demands, and were more satisfied with their professional life than physicians who exhibited less compassion toward themselves in uncertain and challenging times.” Read the research.
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Practice Matters
Boundaries
So often we feel it’s our role to give, and give, and give. Especially when there is so much need in the world for support, healing, and peace. We might think our part is to carry so much responsibility for bringing change to the forefront. For fixing what is broken and unjust. For building a new way for all people and the planet to move forward.
We can only give what we have. We may be exhausted or burnt out with a tank depleted long ago. Notice when you require deep rest, replenishment, and be open to receiving whatever it is that you need. Return yourself to equilibrium – when giving and receiving create a sustainable flow. Perhaps it’s time to discern when/how to limit your gifts, resources, and life force so you can show up as your compassionate whole self. Interesting that we think that we will change ourselves by changing the world. In fact, we change the world by changing ourselves.
When can we practice? Always!
If you'd like to explore additional Practice Matters, you can find them here.
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Lead Better, Change Together.
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