Our Compassion is limitless, and there are infinite ways to show it.

The Hopkinton Center for the Arts has asked me to join an upcoming production of Project Empathy. My free time isn't usually spent performing in front of an audience, but this experience has helped me learn that I'm even stronger than I thought. My past has taught me empathy and Compassion, and there is a story to share. 

Please consider joining me with five other incredible humans sharing their life experiences. This project has brought me deeper awareness, and this audience experience will be life-changing. [*1]

Let’s sweep the brain…

The Weekly MindSweep allows me a space to dig deeper, research, and surround myself with meaning. In the past few weeks of being engulfed in empathy (what it means, what it looks like, how it feels), I've encountered a similar word that is often confused with empathy. 

Compassion.

noun

sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

What's the difference? 

• We feel empathy when we are aware of other people's emotions and try to understand them. [*2]

• Empathy or sympathy triggers Compassion, which creates a desire to help. [*3]

My attraction to Compassion comes from its "action."

It's where we do what we can about the situation. If you've worked with me, you know I'm all about taking inspired, clear, and meaningful action.

And then, there is the power of the pause.

There's such extreme value in having the understanding, the listening, and the feeling that empathy brings. This understanding is pivotal before leaping into taking charge of a situation. Empathy brings an awareness of what your recipient would like. It's a place where great leaders are born.

Last Friday at Phenomenal Women Drinking Caffeine, we pulled a card from The Wild Offering Oracle deck to begin our discussion. Here’s what came up.

As we shared what thoughts came up for us, a dear friend and colleague, Kate Hollis, shared a 3 H tool used for children that would be valuable for everyone. 

Do you want to be 

• Heard

• Helped

• Or Hugged.

When we stop to consider what action someone would feel most supported by, this clearly demonstrates how to begin showing Compassion to another human being. It's in our human nature to care for others. When we do that, it helps regulate the recipient's nervous system.

Compassion is contagious. 

When we show up with Compassion for others, the reward they feel is immediate. And it has a ripple effect on the people around them.

This also goes for you. 

It's not a natural pattern for our brain to have self-compassion. Self-compassion is a practice. [*4] 

• You can learn to have more empathy. 

• You can learn to be more compassionate to yourself and others. 

• It's a simple concept. It will be challenging. You've done harder things. 

Join us for Curated Conversation this month to dig further into Compassion and how it shows up in your life and business. Learn more about how our brains naturally process and tools on how to rewire some of the default modes we all experience.

Have you encountered a situation in life or business that could have benefited from empathy or Compassion?

Was it for yourself or someone around you?

This has become a new space for my digressions.

[*1] If you are local and interested in attending Project Empathy's performance, there will be two opportunities. 

• Friday, September 29th  https://bit.ly/929ProjectEmpathy

• Saturday, September 3oth https://bit.ly/930ProjectEmpathy

[*2] Empathy is often described as "putting yourself in someone else's shoes" Feel the blisters on their feet from the ill-fitting shoe.

[*3] Compassion is asking to offer a new pair of shoes better suited to their feet.

[*4] Manage your Mind; Compassion. Week 3 of each month brings our topic to the brain, and we learn more about the neuroscience of it. Stick around, and we'll dig deeper into self-compassion and our brains!

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