Day 35: Global Compassion

Welcome to 40 Days of Mindfulness and Compassion Day 35!

 

Lecture

A common thread running through these 40 days is that contemplative practice will often rub up against ingrained psychological and emotional habits and patterns. This is especially true for cultivation kindness and compassion and the like.

Our appraisal systems are very deeply ingrained. For survival reasons, we have developed habitual ways of reacting to the world that involve instant appraisals of what matters to us and why. The psychologist Richard Lazarus proposed distinct appraisals that lead to different emotions in his book Emotions and Adaptation. When we notice something in the environment that matters (or it could be another emotion or “internal state”) we then appraise how it matters, and this appraisal may lead to a specific emotional reaction that motivates us to act. Once an emotional reaction has been activated, and it has been reinforced through further appraisals, it can come to dominate to the extent that everything is now perceived through its lenses.

Once in this refractory period (to use Eckman’s term), things are perceived in a biased manner by means of emotionally fueled projections. In other words, as has been discussed before, we see what the emotion wants us to see. One reason that the practice of cultivating global compassion can be so transformative may be because it is acting at the level of appraisals. As compassion becomes broadened, appraisals of others may become “softened.”

Many of our appraisals will be in reference to other persons and groups, and these appraisals drive us to act in specific ways. Each of us has a worldview that has been constructed and reinforced from a lifetime’s worth of appraisals. In cultivating global compassion it is likely that we are challenging this in some ways. As such, there is likely to be “backlash.” It is not a “one off” deal but something that can be returned to again and again.

The flip side of this is that compassion practice can feel very good. This is kind of a secret and perhaps not readily apparent. How can compassion practice feel good? Isn’t it about being with suffering? As I have mentioned earlier, to me, the entire practice is counterintuitive. When tapping into compassion, the parts of the brain connected to well-being and happiness may be stimulated. The process of broadening compassion can feel very powerful and meaningful.

Meditation

 

Meditation Day 35: Global Compassion

 

Self-Reflective Activity

Before an interaction with others that might be stressful or where strong emotions might arise, contemplate individuals that you will be in interacting with. Imagine each individual performing daily activities. Then, imagine approaching him or her and offering a handshake. This is a powerful way of humanizing others.

 

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