For this Sunday, April 29th, the focus for
our meditation will be on Empathy. A recent article talks about the demonstration
of three types of Empathy in the actions taken by Starbucks following an
incident in which two men were wrongly arrested at one of their stores in
Philadelphia. (The article on Empathy
can be read at https://tinyurl.com/yaas322c) Researchers Paul Ekman and Daniel Goleman
first identified the different types of Empathy as Cognitive Empathy
(understanding cognitively how someone feels), Emotional Empathy (actually
feeling what another person feels), and Compassionate Empathy (being
moved to take action in response to these feelings). All three facets of Empathy are
important elements of Emotional Intelligence, or the ability to alter one’s
behavior in response to the feeling of others.
This latter aspect of Empathy is especially important, in my
opinion. To remedy some of society’s
problems we may be required to act and not just shake our heads in sympathy at
the misfortune of others. The first
couple of steps are important – being willing to listen to people and trying to
see things from their perspective – but without subsequent action they do
little to really change things. Being
truly Empathetic isn’t easy – it takes effort and a willingness to
suspend judgment. Problems erupt when
people instead are hyperreactive to a situation as can happen in road rage
incidents. The adage of counting to ten
before acting is a wise one for that allows us time to process the experience
more fully first. Then we can more
sincerely seek to understand the other person and be moved to Compassionate Empathy
that results in the best action for all.
If more people in this country refined their ability to experience Empathy
in all its forms it would go a long way to fixing some of the ills we
repeatedly encounter. This week in our
prayer and meditation let us ask that a groundswell of genuine Empathy
sweep across this nation and fill each individual with the willingness to
better understand others. Through
embracing Empathy may we help our country make real progress in its
perpetual struggles against prejudice that have plagued us through the years.
In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the
energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills
this nation. As we perform our
meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of
the light we create. Just as before,
begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost
impossible to look directly at it. Raise
this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down
to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch
of our country. From shore to shore and
border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense
light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country
and the people who live across its vast lands.
Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in
your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us,
and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.
Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I have a desire
to understand the feelings of others and hold genuine Empathy for them? How does it feel in my body when I am able
to be Empathetic and consider the
impact of my behavior on the feelings of others? Then send the energy and
intention of those feelings to the nation.
Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express
thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.
If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share
please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com
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