Sometimes it seems almost impossible for me show up in the ways I wish I could. Despite my best intentions, I sometimes just don’t have it in me.
(Spoiler alert: Real life is filled with messy, imperfect Other People.)
When I come face to face with others’ pain, judgment, rejection, and unconsciousness, it can sometimes be difficult to pause and find my own present awareness or my grounded, centered self.
Instead, I’m tempted to defend myself, offer explanations, or start analyzing what’s wrong with others.
Coming to charged situations with my most empathic, open-hearted self is a practice that needs loads of repetition in order to install it as a lived, embodied habit.
This week’s podcast episode features three examples of this challenge, and different strategies we can try in order to meet judgement, criticism and rejection with open-hearted empathy. Have a listen!
Don’t have time for the whole episode? Here are the show notes so that you can find any part that you’re most interested in!
[1:20] How to respond empathically to a painful text from my father?
[10:57] What is a boundary, and how do I set it?
[17:31] How do I defend myself from others’ judgments in empathic ways?
[20:35] How do you field someone judging you, and how do you advocate for yourself when you’re being falsely accused?
[29:14] How to make peace with the tension that arises between a misinterpretation and the truth of a situation
[32:31] How to interrupt someone going on and on and on
[34:34] How do I apologize for a mistake I made?
[36:30] Are we responsible for not triggering other people?
[45:44] My marriage feels lonely – what are my options?
[57:16] Outro
[10:57] What is a boundary, and how do I set it?
[17:31] How do I defend myself from others’ judgments in empathic ways?
[20:35] How do you field someone judging you, and how do you advocate for yourself when you’re being falsely accused?
[29:14] How to make peace with the tension that arises between a misinterpretation and the truth of a situation
[32:31] How to interrupt someone going on and on and on
[34:34] How do I apologize for a mistake I made?
[36:30] Are we responsible for not triggering other people?
[45:44] My marriage feels lonely – what are my options?
[57:16] Outro
Looking for more articles on open-hearted empathy amidst difficult situations?
Check these out:
Triggered but Conscious
Do you have a strategy for remaining open-hearted even when it’s hard? I’d love to know! Please leave a comment below!
