Seeds of Compassion:
By Maureen Murphy
When I think of all the challenges we face today, the words, compassion, Earth, and community, are at the core of my response.
I believe the root of our multiple crisis - catastrophic environmental threats, economic injustice, violence, and a host of chronic physical and mental illnesses, to name a few - lies our fundamental misunderstanding of our place in nature.
We have been conditioned to believe, and therefore to act, as if we are outside of nature, and therefore collectively abuse her benevolence and deny our mutual co-arising and interdependence.
Transforming our understanding, and the behaviors which follow, begins with connection.
Mindfulness practice, a form of meditation also known as vipassana or insight, helps restore our connection to our inner knowing, to each other, and to the animating spirit in all life. From there, we can make a conscious choice to be present to what is happening in each moment.
Do we have the capacity and skill to stay compassionately engaged with what is occurring in our world, to respond to the suffering without becoming numb or flooded by overwhelming emotions? What can help us?
Practicing mindfulness can help us reduce reactivity and improve our relationships, so we can come together in solution-oriented collaborations.
All of the programs at May Day Resilience are designed to empower you to steady yourself in challenging times by aligning with your inner resources. Each of us has a gift to share in these critical times. My experience and education helps me support women in fully expressing their gifts in an atmosphere of safety and encouragement. Studies show that when we support women and girls, our families, communities, and nations thrive.
Studies also show that mindfulness and meditation can help us balance our nervous system and manage our stress response. This in turn can lead to improved sleep, digestion, circulation, and immunity, and healthy relating. We are better able to focus and concentrate. All of these contribute to a greater sense of well-being, and have been shown to increase longevity.
After all, we want to live in a world which supports each one of us in truly flourishing!
If you are curious or wish to explore opportunities to work together, please contact me at: www.MayDayResilience.com