Embracing Shared Common Humanity

Photo by Astronaut, Chris Hadfield

Embracing Shared Humanity

Recognition of a basic sameness… the aspiration for happiness and the wish not to suffer

We are all interconnected & interdependent

Compassion is, by definition, relational.

Self-compassion recognizes suffering is part of the shared human experience.

Empathy- the Building Block of Compassion

Two qualities necessary for healthy empathic concern and compassion-

First: Self-awareness. Sense, feel, recognize what is happening in the body/mind, as we encounter the suffering.

Somatic sensitivity mirrors the process by which we

sense the experience of another

Positive regard for others, kindness, and awareness form a basis for empathic concern and compassion

-The Precious Necessity of Compassion (2011) Joan Halifax, PhD

How to Engender Compassion?

Second: In order to cultivate a healthy empathic concern, we must be able to differentiate between self and other

Otherwise the physiological activation of shared experience can lead to burnout, secondary trauma or moral distress.

An appropriate and transformative relationship to suffering is through mindful self-awareness, the regulation of our emotions and the awareness of our common humanity

Joan Halifax identities three common fear responses: fight (moral outrage), flight (abandonment), or freeze (numbing).

Empathy and Compassion

Empathic Attunement

Facing your Partner, Begin by closing your eyes and focusing on the Breath

BELL

Open eyes and silently acknowledge your partners presence

One partner shares something they are having great difficulty with; disappointed or sadden by.

The other person listens and imaginatively lives through the expereince being shared

BELL

Simply Thank your partner

In Group Bias & Empathy

Common Humanity at Work?

How We DeHumanize

Just Like Me

Take-Aways

Social brains are primed for both empathy and in-group bias

Holding Opposites: both are true, we are empathetic and we dehumanize

Empathic responses depend on multiple processes, including self-regulation and

person-categorization

Common humanity

Practice of Common HumanityAcknowledge own desire for happiness and freedom from suffering.

Bring to mind friend/loved one, stranger/neutral person, and “difficult” person.

Reflect on each person’s common humanity. “Just like me, this person wishes to be happy and free from suffering.”

Think of all these people and how common humanity connects you all.

Informal Practice

During your everyday activities, consciously notice someone, a friend, a stranger… and silently wish for them May you be happy, well, free of fear, and at ease

When encountering a difficult person, think that “Just Like Me, this person wishes to be happy and not to suffer”