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“Meditation can actually change the size of key regions of our brain, improving our memory and making us more empathetic, compassionate, and resilient under stress.

https://empathymatters.org/now/meditation/

What Does Mindfulness Meditation Do to Your Brain?

MRI scans show that after an eight-week course of mindfulness practice, the brain’s “fight or flight” center, the amygdala, appears to shrink. This primal region of the brain, associated with fear and emotion, is involved in the initiation of the body’s response to stress.
As the amygdala shrinks, the pre-frontal cortex – associated with higher order brain functions such as awareness, concentration and decision-making – becomes thicker.
Research:  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0064574
Article:  https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/what-does-mindfulness-meditation-do-to-your-brain/
Neuroscientist Sara Lazar‘s amazing brain scans show meditation can actually change the size of key regions of our brain, improving our memory and making us more empathetic, compassionate, and resilient under stress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8rRzTtP7Tc

Meditation facilitates creating more space in life to focus on the things that are really important.

Meditation facilitates a calm mind which heightens compassionate and empathetic responses to people. A study in Human Neuroscience explained how meditation could affect emotional processing which can create positive responses to negative stimuli. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3485650/ A few hours of training over the course of several days increased positive affective experiences and elicited activity in brain regions previously associated with positive affect and social affiliation (Klimecki et al., ). In a larger field experiment, Fredrickson et al. () found that loving-kindness meditation produced increases over a 2-month period in daily experiences of positive emotions, which promoted increases in a wide range of personal resources (e.g., increased mindfulness, purpose in life, social support, decreased illness symptoms), which, in turn, predicted increased life satisfaction and reduced depressive symptoms. In a recent randomized controlled trial, an intensive meditation/emotion regulation intervention that included multiple elements of compassion training yielded reduced trait negative affect, rumination, depression, and anxiety, increased trait positive affect and mindfulness, and improved recognition of subtle facial expressions of emotion (Kemeny et al., ). Taken together, these recent studies support the hypothesis that compassion meditation contributes to improved emotion regulation. In contrast to mindful-attention practices aimed at improving attentional skills, compassion meditation is a distinct form of contemplative practice aimed at cultivating higher levels of compassion. Compassion can be defined as the feeling that arises in witnessing another’s suffering and that motivates a subsequent desire to help (Goetz et al., ). In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, compassion is considered the ultimate source of well-being and happiness (Davidson and Harrington, ). Buddhist-inspired practices for cultivating compassion for self and others have been proposed by a number of authors as accessible methods to help alleviate psychological problems and improve well-being (Salzberg, ; Gilbert, ; Makransky, ; Germer, ; Hofmann et al., ; Ozawa-de Silva and Dodson-Lavelle, ; Jazaieri et al., ; Wallmark et al., ). Emerging scientific evidence suggests that these interventions may be beneficial on multiple levels. A pilot study indicated that compassionate mind training could lead to significant reductions in depression, anxiety, self-criticism, and shame (Gilbert and Procter, ). Another study suggested that compassion meditation may offer health-related benefits such as reduced immune and behavioral response to psychosocial stress (Pace et al., ). In a pilot study of loving-kindness meditation, a practice related to compassion meditation, chronic low back pain patients showed significant improvements in pain and psychological distress (Carson et al., ). Remarkably, Hutcherson et al. () found that even only a few minutes of loving-kindness meditation could increase feelings of social connection and positivity toward novel individuals.

Guided Meditations via Zoom

Guided Group Meditations

⚪ Guided meditation can be applied to assist with creative visualization, relieving stress, escaping the endless ramblings of the “egoic thoughts”, to experiencing your own true nature, providing relief from insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, chronic fatigue, chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, and so much more.

 

⚪ Yoga Nidra meditation returns you to your own inner Self, giving you a chance to experience that perfect peace and Self-born bliss that is beyond the mind and body. The benefits of experiencing that state while awake are truly beyond description; it re-energizes you on the deepest level possible. Encountering your own higher Self truly is the greatest form of Self-empowerment”. Sri. Devidas, — “Yoga Nidra” 

 


 

Effect of meditation on photon emission from hands and forehead

International Institute of Biophysics, Neuss, Germany

...::"Conclusions: The data support the hypothesis that human photon emission can be influenced by meditation. Data from time series recordings suggest that this non-invasive tool for monitoring radical reactions during meditation is useful to characterise the effect of meditation.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16086532/

 

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Adyashanti -- The Way of Liberation

Adyashanti

:: The Way of Liberation ::
https://www.adyashanti.org/store/books/the-way-of-liberation-533 ($10)
link to eBook pdf
Adyashanti.org (website)
Book Excerpts and notes
FreeSpiritualEbooks.com/the-way-of-liberation (website)
Youtube.com/results?search_query=adyashanti
Yogananda_book_cover

Paramahansa Yogananda

(born Mukunda Lal Ghosh; January 5, 1893 – March 7, 1952) was an Indian monk, yogi and guru who introduced millions to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his organization Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India, and who lived his last 32 years in America. A chief disciple of the Bengali yoga guru Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, he was sent by his lineage to spread the teachings of yoga to the West, to prove the unity between Eastern and Western religions and to preach a balance between Western material growth and Indian spirituality.[2] His long-standing influence in the American yoga movement, and especially the yoga culture of Los Angeles, led him to be considered by yoga experts as the “Father of Yoga in the West.”[3][4] Yogananda was the first major Indian teacher to settle in America, and the first prominent Indian to be hosted in the White House (by President Calvin Coolidge in 1927);[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda
Ramana_Maharshi

Ramana Maharshi

was an Indian Hindu sage and jivanmukta. He was born Venkataraman Iyer, but is mostly known by the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. He was born in Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu, India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramana_Maharshi
Jiddu_Krishnamurti

Jiddu Krishnamurti

(11 May 1895 – 17 February 1986) was an Indian speaker and writer. In his early life, he was groomed to be the new World Teacher, but later rejected this mantle and withdrew from the Theosophy organization behind it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti
….::” When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent… Do you see why it is violent? … Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind… When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence… So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti
…::”The highest form of human intelligence… is to observe yourself… without judgment. ~Krishnamurti
…::”The day you teach the child the name of the bird, the child will never see that bird again. ~Krishnamurti
..::” Civilisation is hurting. You see this everywhere all over the world, this constant comparison, constant imitation, constant saying, you are “that”, I must be like “you”. I must be like Krishna, like Buddha, like Jesus – do you follow? That’s a hurt. Religions have hurt people. ~Krishnamurti
..::” Violence is not merely killing another… It is violence when we use a sharp word… when we make a gesture to brush away a person, when we obey because there is fear… So violence isn’t merely organized butchery in the name of God… in the name of society or country… Violence is much more subtle… much deeper… and we are inquiring into the very depths of violence.” ~ Krishnamurti
..::”It is no measure of Health… to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” ~Krishnamurti
_________________
—— Quote related to NVC by Marshall Rosenberg ——
..::” The Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti once remarked that… “Observing without “EVALUATING” is the highest form of human intelligence.” … When I (Marshall) first read this statement, the thought, –>“What non sense!”<– shot through my mind… even before I realized that I had just made an “EVALUATION”.
..::” For most of us, it is difficult to make observations of people and their behavior that are free of JUDGMENT, criticism, or other forms of analysis…
..::” For THOUSANDS of years, we have been TAUGHT TO THINK in a particular way designed to make us OBEDIENT TO AUTHORITY …. but which is not conducive to safety and PEACE on our PLANET. ~ Marshall Rosenberg :: NVC ::
..::” Most of us are ADDICTED TO “ego-stroking” and mistake it for LOVE… Withdrawing “EGO-STROKING” can bring about much insecurity that is usually expressed through bouts of ANGER AND PROJECTION… ~ Nouk Sanchez, “Take Me To Truth”: Undoing the Ego (p. 144) ::
..::” You have never reacted to someone “ELSE”… You PROJECT “meaning” onto nothing… And you REACT to the meaning you’ve PROJECTED. ~ Byron Katie
..::” The most dangerous psychological mistake is the PROJECTION of the shadow onto others. This is the root of almost all conflicts.” ~Carl Jung
..::” If we do anything to harm someone else… a powerful new factor comes into PLAY: the need to JUSTIFY what you did…. once the persecutor starts down the path of BLAMING THE VICTIM, he becomes likely to physically and psychologically attack the victim with even GREATER ferocity the next chance he gets. ~ Mistakes Were Made (but not by me) By Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson ::
..::” How differently will you PERCEIVE the world when this is recognized!… When you forgive the “world” your *guilt*, you will be free of it…. Its INNOCENCE does not demand your guilt, nor does your guiltlessness rest on its sins…. This is the obvious; a secret kept from NO ONE but yourself…. And it is this that has maintained you SEPARATE from the WORLD. ~ACIM T-27.VIII.13.
..::” The CENTRAL lesson is always this; that what you use the body FOR… it will become to you… Use it for sin or for attack, which is the same as sin, and you will see it as sinful…. Use it to bring the -Word of God- to those who have it not, and the body becomes HOLY ~ACIM M-12.5.
..::” There is no need for help to enter Heaven, for you never left. ~ ACIM URText
..::” A teacher of -fear- can not bring ~PEACE ON EARTH~ … We have been trying to do it that way for THOUSANDS of years…. The person who turns INNER violence around, the person who finds PEACE inside and LIVES IT, is the one who teaches what TRUE PEACE IS…. We are waiting for just One teacher…. You’re the One ~Byron Katie
..::” The only way you can help someone… is if you know they are already perfect. ~Cindy Teevens

Ranjit Maharaj

was born on 4 January 1913.[3] In 1924 he met Siddharameshwar Maharaj. The following year he was initiated by Siddharameshwar Maharaj. In 1934, at the age of 21 he took initiation to monkhood. Only in 1983, at the age of 70, initiated his first disciple, Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj’s granddaughter in law.[3] Hereafter he started to attract an international following. In 1996 he was invited to visit Germany, France and USA. In the following years he visited these countries several times, and also the UK, Switzerland and Spain also, until 2000, when he died.[3]
..::” Use a thorn to remove a thorn, then throw them both away. ~Ranjit Maharshi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranjit_Maharaj
Transcendental Meditation Technique – A Complete Introduction

Transcendental Meditation Technique
A Complete Introduction

stress_reduction

Define Transcendence

Try this 3 minute example below... and notice your own ANS response...

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Hey everyone 🙂 … I’m in Ormand by the Sea… Just north of Daytona Florida… And we still have no electricity… Not complaining, just saying 🙂… 

Florida power and light company… estimates power to be restored by 10/17 at 11:45 PM… so I might not be able to attend zoom sessions until electricity and Internet are working again.

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Empathy Circles and Open Source Empathy Café

 

Would you like to speak and feel fully heard? Would you like to connect to yourself and others more deeply? Do you want to work on developing your empathy skills?

 

An empathy circle is a simple but powerful way for people to connect through structured dialogue, speaking and active listening in small groups. It takes about 15 minutes to understand. 

You don’t need any special skills or training to be involved.

 

It is primarily designed to offer an environment for active listening and creates a space where you can talk and feel heard to your satisfaction about a set topic or whatever is alive for you in the moment.

 

You will each have a role in the circle and take turns switching roles throughout the circle.

One role is the speaker who will speak to an active listener.

 

Everyone else takes the role of a silent listener during each turn and there is also a facilitator role who will also participate, keep time and help keep everyone in the process. 

 

Link:  Ground Rules / Guidelines (NYC–PTSD)

 
 

 

 

The two main criteria in practicing Marshall Rosenberg’s NVC:

 

1. Are you speaking and acting from your own experience?
aka: It’s not about “fixing” someone else.

 

2. Is your practice contributing to well-being? aka: Do No Harm (“Ahimsa”) When harm occurs accidentally, NVC can be used for repair work and healing. 


________________________

 

QUESTION: “When should NVC not be applied for a reason of impaired physical or mental health?

 

ANSWER: ” I cannot think of a situation in which self-compassion, self-empathy, and self-connection is not appropriate. ~Marshall Rosenberg

 

Carl Rogers 3 core conditions:

 Empathy, Congruence and Unconditional positive regard.

 

1) Empathic understanding: the counsellor trying to understand the client’s point of view.

 

2) Congruence: the counsellor being a genuine person.

 

3) Unconditional positive regard: the counsellor being non-judgmental.

 

[Listening]

… means entering the private perceptual world of the other and becoming thoroughly at home in it… It involves being sensitive, moment by moment, to the changing felt meanings which flow in this other person…. To be with another in this ways means that for the time being, you lay aside your own views and values in order to enter anothers world without prejudice… In some sense it means that you lay aside yourself …. ~Carl Rogers

 

Empathy is saying to someone:

“I’m trying to be a companion to you in your search and your exploration. I want to know, am I with you? Is this the way it seems to you? Is this the thing you’re trying to express? Is this the meaning it has for you?”

 

So in a sense I’m saying, “I’m walking with you step by step, and I want to make sure I am with you. Am I with you? So that’s a little bit of my understanding about empathy.”

 

~ Carl Rogers

 
Carl_Rogers and Leta Hollingworth

Carl Rogers and Leta Hollingworth

…::”Empathy is the listener’s effort to hear the other person deeply, accurately, and non-judgmentally. Empathy involves skillful reflective listening that clarifies and amplifies the person’s own experiencing and meaning, without imposing the listener’s own material.’ ~ Carl Rogers (1902–1987)
..::”I used to think that the top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and climate change. I thought that thirty years of good science could address these problems. I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed, and apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that. ~ Gus Speth ♡
…::”The highest form of human intelligence… is to observe… without judgment. ~ Krishnamurti ♡
NVC :: OFNR :: OBSERVATION♡, Feelings, Needs and Requests
OBSERVATION♡ without evaluation consists of noticing concrete (real) things and actions around us. We learn to distinguish between judgment and what we sense in the PRESENT moment, and to simply OBSERVE what is there (right now).
…::” Violence is not merely killing another… It is violence when we use a sharp WORD… when we make a gesture to brush away a person, when we obey because there is fear… So violence isn’t merely organized butchery in the name of God… in the name of society or country… Violence is much more subtle… much deeper… and we are inquiring into the very depths of violence.” ~ Krishnamurti ♡
MRI scans show that after an eight-week course of mindfulness practice, the brain’s “fight or flight” center, the amygdala, appears to shrink. … As the amygdala shrinks, the pre-frontal cortex – associated with higher order brain functions such as awareness, concentration, and decision-making – becomes thicker (expands).
Please Note: An “Empathy Circle” facilitator / trainer must complete the training offered by Edwin Rutsch at: www.EmpathyCircle.com in order to use the name, organize, or promote “Empathy Circles“. (c)
Elevated Empathy in adults following childhood trauma: (science) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6169872/
How Empathy is often misunderstood. (Holistic Psychology)
https://www.facebook.com/the.holistic.psychologist/posts/pfbid02p1hT3ae8mpmmpCXNuKsSmHY8Qsreb4RjT8Ez2VtAo6BPFYPixibPDW7nNEhxec7cl

Feelings

Big Hint – Watch out for “non-feeling” words

It is important to choose words that really are feelings.  That’s the reason for the list.  If you use words like “abandoned” or “misled” or “shunned” we can prevent ourselves from getting to the “REAL” feelings.  These “non-feeling” words are more like accusations or judgments than feelings.  SOURCE: https://www.nycnvc.org/feelings

 

Guidelines:

“Trauma is when your reality is neither seen nor acknowledged”
~Bessel van der Kolk 

To us, post-traumatic stress is when the shame, isolation, and pain of past trauma are too intense for us to face and process. As a result, the past trauma ‘lives’ in a sense, and continues to affect our health, relationships, jobs, bodies, and day-to-day lives.

 

Sharing our traumas in a supportive environment is one avenue for lessening that shame and isolation. Ideally, we can continue to lessen the impact of our past traumas on our present-day lives.  Lifestyle changes can lengthen telomeres. 

 

Group details:

 

Peer support groups for helping in recovering from traumatic experience(s).
All are welcome, and the safety of the group takes priority.  Formal diagnosis of PTSD is not required.  People with “non-traditional” causes of PTSD and/or “Complex PTSD” are also encouraged to join.  The use of “I statements” is encouraged.

 

Please note that neither the organizers nor the other members are acting as “therapists”. This is not a substitute for therapy, and the group is intended to support one’s recovery, not serve as its sole venue.  No one will force or push you to “dig deeper” into your story. The use of “I statements” is encouraged.  

 

We ask that all members abide by these guidelines/code of conduct, linked below. Please note that these guidelines apply to meetups as well as to social media etiquette on the meetup websites:

 

https://empathymatters.org/now/carl-rogers#NYC-PTSD

 

“One must revisit the trauma but one need not relive it.”

 

Friends and visitors are welcome but their presence is subject to a majority of members present agreeing to it.

 

Through updating our outdated beliefs about reality we can alter the behaviors that derive from these old beliefs and achieve deep and lasting change. https://empathymatters.org/now/transformation/

 

Our current (online technology) :: website, “Zoom hosting”, and “Meetup hosting” costs are over $700 per year, covered personally by Larry.  Gratitude coffee is always appreciated: 🙂  https://buymeacoffee.com/Cup.of.Empathy

 
 
 

Current “trigger warning” research:

 

“Trigger Warning” critics argue that warnings both contribute to a culture of avoidance at odds with evidence-based treatment practices and instill fear about upcoming content. Recently, a body of psychological research has begun to investigate these claims empirically. We present the results of a meta-analysis of all empirical studies on the effects of these warnings. https://osf.io/qav9m/


Past research has indicated that trigger warnings are unhelpful in reducing anxiety. The results of this study are consistent with that conclusion. This study was the first to focus on how trigger warnings function in a sample of people who had survived Criterion A trauma as defined by the DSM–5 (APA, 2013). Trigger warnings did not reduce anxiety for this sample broadly. Trigger warnings also did not reduce anxiety among people who met a clinical cutoff for PTSD symptoms, reported a diagnosis of PTSD, or reported that the stimuli matched the content of their past trauma. Trigger warnings showed trivially small effects on response anxiety overall. When effects did emerge, they tended toward small increases in anxiety rather than decreases.

Bellet et al. (2018) previously found that trigger warnings increased individuals’ projections of their own vulnerability to future trauma as well as the vulnerability of others. Our results suggested substantial evidence that these effects did not replicate. Bellet et al. also reported that individuals who endorsed the belief that words are emotionally harmful showed greater anxiety in response to trigger warnings compared with individuals who did not endorse that belief. Again, we found substantial evidence that this effect did not replicate. One possibility is that these effects were unique to the trigger-warning-naïve (trauma-naïve), crowd-sourced, older sample used by Bellet et al. However, given that these effects originally had a small effect size and did not replicate in larger samples of college students (Bellet et al., 2020) or trauma survivors (present study), the original results may have been a false positive.

We found substantial evidence that giving trigger warnings to trauma survivors caused them to view trauma as more central to their life narrative. This effect is a reason for worry. Some trigger warnings explicitly suggest that trauma survivors are uniquely vulnerable (e.g., “ . . . especially in those with a history of trauma”). Even when trigger warnings mention content only, the implicit message that trauma survivors are vulnerable remains (Why else provide a warning?). These messages may reinforce the notion that trauma is invariably a watershed event that causes permanent psychological change. In reality, a majority of trauma survivors are resilient, experiencing little if any lasting psychological changes as a result of their experience (Bonanno, 2004Bonanno & Mancini, 2008). Aggregated across various types of trauma, just 4% of potentially traumatic events result in PTSD (Liu et al., 2017).2 However, trauma survivors who view their traumatic experience as central to their life have elevated PTSD symptoms (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006Brown et., 2010Robinaugh & McNally, 2011). Trauma centrality prospectively predicts elevated PTSD symptoms, whereas the reverse is not true (Boals & Ruggero, 2016). Decreases in trauma centrality mediated therapy outcomes (Boals & Murrell, 2016). This suggests that increasing trauma centrality is directly countertherapeutic. In other words, trigger warnings may harm survivors by increasing trauma centrality.

We tested whether the severity of PTSD symptoms in our sample moderated any of our tested hypotheses. In most cases, we found either evidence for no moderation or ambiguous evidence. However, we did find substantial evidence that PTSD symptoms moderated the effect of trigger warnings on response anxiety. For individuals who had more severe PTSD, trigger warnings increased anxiety. This effect is ironic in the sense that trigger warnings may be most harmful for the individuals they were designed to protect. We found no evidence that individuals’ prior exposure to trigger warnings moderated any of the previous effects.

A limitation of past research was that trigger warnings were primarily tested among individuals who were trauma-naïve or in mixed samples. That is, the possibility remained that despite being unhelpful for most who view them, trigger warnings may have been helpful for trauma survivors or individuals with PTSD. In this study, we find no evidence supporting this possibility. Trigger warnings were not helpful for trauma survivors. For individuals who met a clinical cutoff for severity of PTSD symptoms, trigger warnings slightly increased anxiety. Trigger warnings were not helpful for individuals who self-reported a diagnosis of PTSD. Perhaps most convincingly, trigger warnings were not helpful even when they warned about content that closely matched survivors’ traumas. That is, when considering only the passages that participants reported as reminding them of past trauma, trigger warnings were still unhelpful.

Although the research base on trigger warnings has grown quickly, several constraints on generality regarding trigger warnings still remain. For example, experiments thus far have tested trigger warnings before short-term stimuli, such as literature passages, film clips, and photos. Studies have tested only a limited range of negative psychological outcomes (e.g., self-report anxiety, negative affect, intrusive memory). Our study provides important information about individuals who have suffered from trauma, many of whom met the clinical threshold for PTSD symptoms. However, it does not provide information about individuals diagnosed with PTSD via clinical interview. It is unclear whether our findings (especially concerning evidence of potential harms) would apply to extended classroom discussions or other situations of greater temporal duration. In addition, whether the potentially negative effects of trigger warnings found thus far have more than short-term adverse effects remains uncertain. Nevertheless, these potential constraints on generality do not imply that trigger warnings are helpful. Rather, they imply that potential moderators remain untested.

Public arguments regarding trigger warnings have been politically charged, complex, and data-poor. Recent research on trigger warnings can importantly inform or perhaps even settle some of these debates. The research suggests that trigger warnings are unhelpful for trauma survivors, college students, trauma-naïve individuals, and mixed groups of participants (Bellet et al., 20182020Bridgland et al., 2019Sanson et al., 2019). Given this consistent conclusion, we find no evidence-based reason for educators, administrators, or clinicians to use trigger warnings.

Whether trigger warnings are explicitly harmful is less clear. We found evidence that trigger warnings increase the narrative centrality of trauma among survivors, which is countertherapeutic (Boals & Murrell, 2016). We also found that trigger warnings increase anxiety for those with more severe symptoms of PTSD. Although these effects were preregistered and found in a large sample, the sizes of the effects were small and have not yet been rigorously tested across multiple studies. However, such knowledge is unnecessary to adjudicate whether to use trigger warnings—if there is no good reason to deploy them in the first place, we need not require strong evidence of harm before abandoning them. Trigger warnings should serve as an important caution to both clinical and nonclinical professionals who use interventions aimed to improve well-being among trauma survivors. Such practices should be thoroughly vetted via appropriate scientific techniques before they are adopted. Using unvetted interventions is irresponsible to victims of trauma.

https://empathymatters.org/now#research
 REF:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2167702620921341

The clinical notion of triggering dates back far as 1918, when psychologists tried to  make sense of “war neurosis” in World War I, and later World War II, veterans. The term “post-traumatic stress disorder” came into use after the Vietnam War, but was not recognized as a diagnosable affliction until 1980. Then, psychologists started to work with clients to identify possible PTSD “triggers,” or a sensory input that somehow resembles the original trauma. But anticipating them is notoriously difficult. They assume disparate and unpredictable forms. An essay, or film, or other piece of media might trigger a person, as could a sound or a smell, a physical space, a specific object, or a person.  https://bit.ly/3wNHxgf


 

“Triggers” prime the body for a physiological response of fight/flight or freeze, a response similar to the circumstances of the original distressing event. Some flashbacks are visual, as well as auditory and physical, so the person will see, hear, and feel the past abuse experience as if it was happening in the present. Sometimes the memories last a few seconds, sometimes minutes, and for one of my clients who had severe PTSD, flashbacks lasted more than an hour.

 

Trauma can have a long-term debilitating impact on our functioning. However, it is impossible to live a full and engaged life while simultaneously avoiding experiences that may potentially trigger flashbacks. https://psychologytoday.com/us/blog/breaking-the-silence/201910/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

 

https://www.andrew-kae.com/survivorresources

 

 
The Battle Over Free Speech: Are Trigger Warnings, Safe Spaces & No-Platforming Harming Young Minds?
 

Psychology

Trigger warnings are ineffective for trauma survivors & those who meet the clinical cutoff for PTSD, and increase the degree to which survivors view their trauma as central to their identity (preregistered, n = 451)

REF:

https://r.nf/r/science/comments/gyzrbt/trigger_warnings_are_ineffective_for_trauma/ftel4xp/?context=3


RE: “Content warning” vs “trigger warning” …  We probably understand the reason for using the softer term “content warning”, and current scientific research / literature, will always more accurately use the term “Trigger Warning”.

re: (“content”) … i think we might agree that at any present moment, any sensory input (content), can become a source of stimulation that becomes an opportunity to experience the present moment as awareness (observation), or as an interpretation (judgment) of that sensory input (content) as neutral, pleasant, or a potential threat to an individual’s physical or psychological egoic survival, potentially triggering an amygdala hijack, survival reflex mechanism,  which is a “trigger like”, (“all or none law”) neurological reflex, resulting from a fear-based interpretation of the (content).


“Learning to ‘drop an anchor’ in the midst of an ‘emotional storm’ can help to hold us steady in the present moment whilst the storm buffets around. An anchor is anything that is a part of the present moment other than the storm itself. A simple grounding exercise can be: Notice 5 things you can see, 4 things that you can hear, 3 things that you can feel, 2 things that you can smell or taste, and end with noticing what you’re doing right now, in the present moment. https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/54937/coping-with-climate-grief-advice-from-an-environmental-psychologist/


“It’s not psychological safety if people can only voice what you want to hear. The goal is not to be comfortable. It’s to create a climate where people can speak up without fear. Psychological safety begins with admitting our own mistakes and welcoming criticism from others.” ~Adam Grant, psychologist, #1 NYT bestselling author https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammgrant/

Creating a future you really want… starting at 1:07

Please Listen Carefully from minute 27 to minute 42 …. https://youtu.be/QnsUif-CzOg?t=1799

Listening for the needs, behind a thousand no’s…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hovCrw-fD-g

Education, education, education, before it’s too late. https://empathymatters.org/now/education-before-its-too-late/

Getting well, well, well, educated 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyvi8AmxQZk

 

The term “Trigger Warning” became well known in the late 1990s on feminist Internet message boards, where it referred to site-sponsored cautions to readers regarding graphic depictions of rape.

A short history of Trigger Warnings”:

https://psychlopaedia.org/society/republished/whats-the-difference-between-traumatic-fear-and-moral-anger-trigger-warnings-wont-tell-you/
 
 

..::” In self-empathy, you love and accept yourself, but not because of your strengths. You feel compassion for yourself in your weaknesses. You admit where you’ve been wounded and how you’ve hurt others. You embrace the hard truth that you have failed and lost. By facing the pain of your character defects and mistakes, you honor yourself.

~Kristin Neff, Ph.D

https://www.pointloma.edu/resources/counseling-psychology/how-empathy-can-change-your-life-career

Kristin Neff Interviewed by Edwin Rutsch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hchn9KMRNM

Contrast: “Cancel Culture“:: The emergence of a new “cancel culture” where digital mobs police our speech, invade our rights, and even put our physical safety at risk. They argue that cancel culture has created a society ruled by online censorship and eroded our public discourse. Cancel Culture Is Toxic.

 

Contrast: “micromanagement” : “Micromanagement is generally considered to have a negative connotation, mainly because it shows a lack of freedom and trust.   Micro-management refers to anyone in a leadership position who uses manipulation, intrusive observation, or exhaustive amounts of communication to control others.   A micromanager is a person who probably has a poor self-image, so he or she doesn’t believe they deserve to be where they are, and so thinks the same about the people they supervise,” … “So the constant checking and looking over employees’ shoulders are really checks on their own ability to do the job.”

“It is not psychological safety if people can only voice what you want to hear. ~Adam Grant

https://empathymatters.org/now#research

 

Trigger Warnings Fail to Help and May Even Harm

 

New research suggests that trigger warnings have little or no benefit in cushioning the blow of potentially disturbing content and, in some cases, may make things worse.

 

Researchers discovered that trigger warnings seem to increase the extent to which people see trauma as central to their identity, which can worsen the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the long run.

 
https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/trigger-warnings-fail-to-help.html

 

“Federal law does not specifically address “Trigger Warnings”.  Warnings are often reserved for common triggers such as images of violence.  Opponents of trigger warnings claim trigger warnings promote censorship.

Trigger warnings are useful in some cases. But avoiding one’s triggers will not treat the underlying mental health concerns. If triggers interfere with someone’s daily life, the person may wish to see a therapist.

In therapy, people can process emotions concerning their pasts. Some may learn relaxation techniques to cope with panic attacks. Others may learn how to avoid unhealthy behaviors. With time and work, a person can face their triggers with much less distress.

Perhaps what is called for is a more neutral and humble stance. We could accept uncertainty about the psyches of individuals, disclaim the conceit of exerting control over triggers, and avoid confident assumptions about anyone’s trauma.  That might help to move in a direction that attempts first to do no harm.

The results of around a dozen psychological studies, published between 2018 and 2021, are remarkably consistent, and they differ from conventional wisdom: they find that trigger warnings do not seem to lessen negative reactions to disturbing material in students, trauma survivors, or those diagnosed with P.T.S.D. Indeed, some studies suggest that the opposite may be true.

In other respects, trigger warnings seem to have less impact than their critics have feared. Some opponents of trigger warnings seem to suppose that they are a way for students to demand that they not encounter ideas that challenge their beliefs, particularly on social-justice issues. That opposition is part of broader worries about teachers “coddling” students, cultivating their fragility, or shielding them from discussions that might expand their minds.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/what-if-trigger-warnings-dont-work

 

“We found substantial evidence that giving trigger warnings to trauma survivors caused them to view trauma as more central to their life narrative. This effect is a reason for worry. Some trigger warnings explicitly suggest that trauma survivors are uniquely vulnerable  (e.g., “especially in those with a history of trauma”).   Even when trigger warnings mention content only, the implicit message that trauma survivors are vulnerable remains (Why else provide a warning?)

 
 
 

 NYC “Content Warning” Poll and Feedback.

 

Please read options  A-F, then click: POLL and Feedback (below)

 

 Suggested “Content Warning” (A)

  

“To keep the group safe, we ask folk to include “content warnings” before and during shares and responses.

 

“So, if you plan to talk about a topic that could be a likely trigger to someone else, such as physical abuse or assault with a deadly weapon, you’d say, “Content warning, I’m going to talk about physical assault,” and leave a pause for folk to mute their audio or turn off their camera. We suggest singing the first line of a nursery rhyme such as “row, row, row your boat”.

 

We also ask folk not to go in too much detail, for example about what kind of weapon was used.”

 

“Depending on who is in attendance, “we” may also remind people that some topics which are not totally obvious may be triggers to people–such as discussing food.

 

Suggested “Content Warning” (B)

  

“We ask participants in the empathy circle to include content warnings before and during shares and responses.

 

“So, if you plan to talk about a topic that could be a likely trigger to someone else, you’d say, “Content warning, I’m going to talk about  ______________  and leave a pause for folk to mute their audio or turn off their camera.

 

We also ask folk not to go into too much detail with possible trigger content.”

 

 Suggested “Content Warning” (C)

“Anyone honestly sharing their feelings about traumatic experiences, may be perceived as triggering” to anyone listening to them. Please responsibly announce any “content warnings”, then pause 5 seconds… and refrain from any overly graphic details.

Speak for yourself, and intend no harm to self or others.

 Suggested “Content Warning” (D)

 ” If you feel your topic may be a trigger for someone else, please voice a content warning.  

 Suggested “Content Warning” (E)

” We ask participants in the Empathy Circle to include Content Warnings before and during shares and to refrain from overly graphic details.”

 Suggested “Content Warning” (F)

” There may be mentions of abuse. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a self-care break and return to the session as it may have moved on from the topic, or attend a different session. Kindly note that each participant is responsible for their own triggers. Please refrain from overly graphic details.”

https://empathymatters.org/now#POLL

  ________________________________

Please select feedback / poll link below

 
 

  

Potentially humorous 5-minute “trigger break” after all that thinking 🙂 


“Carl Jung speaks to the necessity of withdrawing our projections from a historical or external (“chosen one”) figure (Jesus, in this case) if we are to discover experientially the “Christ within,” or the Self.  Carl Jung writes, “The Self (or Christ) is present in everybody a priori, but as a rule in an unconscious condition to begin with.  But it is a definite experience of later life,  when this fact becomes conscious within (Sef-Empathy).  It is only real when it happens, and it can happen only when you withdraw your projections from an ( extrensic ) outward historical or metaphysical Christ and thus wake up Christ within.” (CW:18:par.1638) If Christ remains outside us, either as an example of an ideal or as an external object of worship only, the deeper levels of the soul are never engaged. The result is that religion and religious practice may deteriorate into adherence to rational dogma and trying to follow a set of external rules.
Establishing an Empathic relationship with our “exiled parts” (IFS) is the true path to healing from within calmly aligned with the True Self that is “a priori” in everyone, yet suppressed by cultures of “domination” for thousands of years.

Question to AI: What are “The laws of Chaos” about in ACIM?

AI:  You are right to point out that while A Course in Miracles does not specifically talk about concrete “laws of chaos” in the way we might traditionally think of them, it does describe a system of principles (belief systems) that tend to promote and govern the experience of illusions.

Here’s how you could think about it:

The Illusion of Separation:

This is the foundational illusion, the bedrock upon which all other illusions are built. It’s the belief that we are separate individuals, distinct from each other and from God. This separation leads to fear, guilt, and a constant struggle for survival and validation.

 ACIM emphasizes that we are all part of a unified, loving God.
However, we experience a “sense of separation” due to our belief in a separate self.  This “separation creates the illusion” of chaos, pain, and conflict. 

The Ego’s Role: The ego, the part of us that identifies with the separate self, uses fear, judgment, and guilt to maintain the illusion of separation. This can lead to chaotic experiences in our lives.

The Process of Healing:


The process of healing involves letting go of the ego’s false beliefs and returning to the awareness of our true, loving nature. This process can feel chaotic at times, as we release old patterns and embrace new ways of being.

The Power of Forgiveness: Forgiveness is central to healing and transcending chaos. By forgiving ourselves and others, we release the anger, resentment, and fear that perpetuate the illusion of separation.

While it may seem like chaos and uncertainty are constant, ACIM offers a different perspective. It suggests that these experiences are opportunities for spiritual growth and a chance to choose love over fear.

The Laws of Perception:

The ego, which thrives on separation, operates through a system of distorted perceptions. It interprets everything through the lens of fear and judgment, creating a world of scarcity, competition, and conflict. This distorted perception is what makes the world seem chaotic and unpredictable.

 The Law of Attraction:

This isn’t the “law of attraction” as you might find in New Age teachings. In ACIM, it operates on a more subtle level. The ego attracts experiences that reinforce its belief in separation. So, if you believe you’re unworthy, you’ll attract experiences that confirm that belief.

 The Law of Projection:

We project our own fears and insecurities onto others, and this creates a mirror image of our own inner chaos. This is why we often see in others what we don’t want to see in ourselves.

 The Law of Karma:

While ACIM doesn’t directly use the term karma, it speaks of a cyclical nature to our experiences. We create our own suffering through our choices and beliefs, which then lead to more suffering. This creates a cycle that can feel like inescapable chaos.

 The “laws of chaos” (illusions of projection)

In ACIM, then, are not laws in the sense of fixed rules, but rather principles (mistaken beliefs) that describe the way our minds create and maintain the illusion of a chaotic world.

Here’s a way to think about it:

Imagine a projector showing a distorted image on a screen. The projector represents the ego, and the distorted image represents the chaotic world we experience. The “laws of chaos” are the principles that govern how the projector works, creating the illusion of a chaotic reality.

The good news is that we can choose to shift our perception and break free from these illusory “laws.” By learning to forgive ourselves and others, by letting go of the ego’s grip, and by choosing love over fear, we can experience the true nature of reality, which is one of peace, harmony, and unity.

Do you want to explore any of these “laws” in more detail? For example, we could look at how the law of projection leads to conflict and how forgiveness can break that cycle. 

 
QUESTION to AI:

After we stop burning fossil fuels, how long will it take for the environment to return to the pre-industrial normal/stabile Co2 levels?

AI:

Factors, like melting glaciers and ice sheets, could further increase CO2 release and slow down the return to pre-industrial levels.

It is likely that it would take centuries, if not millennia, (Thousand), of years for the atmosphere to return to pre-industrial CO2 levels, even if we stopped burning fossil fuels today.

Q: Why do the wealthy world leaders, want to own and control everything, while they are in denial of climate change, is it just to keep the stock market economy growing?

AI:

You’ve hit on a complex and troubling intersection of psychology, economics, and global issues. Here’s an attempt to explain it using modern psychology and Internal Family Systems (IFS):

Modern Psychology and Narcissism:

Grandiosity and Control: Narcissistic individuals often exhibit a sense of entitlement, a need for admiration, and a strong desire to control their environment. They may believe they are superior and that rules don’t apply to them.

Lack of Empathy:

Narcissistic individuals struggle with empathy and understanding others’ perspectives. They are often focused on their own needs and goals, making it difficult to consider the broader consequences of their actions.

Denial and Projection:

To maintain their self-image, narcissistic individuals may engage in denial, minimizing or dismissing evidence that contradicts their beliefs. They may also project their own negative qualities onto others, blaming them for their own shortcomings.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Denial:

Protective Parts:

IFS suggests that everyone has different “parts” of themselves, each with its own motivations and beliefs. Some parts may be protective, trying to shield us from perceived threats. These protective parts can lead to denial, minimizing or avoiding painful realities.

Self-Preservation:

In the case of climate change, the protective parts of these leaders might be driven by a fear of losing power, wealth, and control. Denying the severity of the issue might feel like a way to protect their position and maintain a sense of security.

Unconscious Motivations:

Often, the motivations behind denial are unconscious. These leaders might not be consciously aware of the psychological mechanisms driving their actions.

The Stock Market and Economic Growth:

Short-Term Gains: The stock market thrives on continuous growth. Focusing on short-term profits can create an incentive to prioritize economic expansion, even at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability.

Cognitive Dissonance:

There is a clear conflict between the economic interests of these leaders and the urgent need to address climate change. Denying the severity of the issue allows them to maintain a less psychologically uncomfortable position.

Why This Matters:

Global Consequences:

The actions of powerful individuals can have a profound impact on the planet. Denial and inaction on climate change have devastating consequences for the environment and future generations.

Psychological

Impact: Understanding the psychological dynamics at play can help us to better understand the motivations behind these decisions and potentially find ways to address them.

Key Points to Remember:

Complexity:

This issue is incredibly complex, involving a mix of psychological, economic, and political factors.

Not All Leaders:

It’s important not to generalize or stereotype. There are many leaders who are committed to addressing climate change, and many individuals who are actively working to create a sustainable future.

Hope and Action:

Despite the challenges, there is still hope for change. By understanding the forces at play, we can better challenge denial, demand action, and work towards a more sustainable world.

It’s essential to continue the dialogue about these complex issues, to challenge harmful narratives, and to advocate for policies that protect our planet for future generations.

..::” Many years ago, someone I consider a good friend tried to corner me on this issue. Referring to the far-right in Israel I had used the term “Nazi”. He violently disagreed with the use of the term, even though he conceded that these particular people were genocidal – they were calling for the extermination of Palestinians. “The term “Nazi” should be a synonym for “Jew killer”” was what his argument boiled down to (in fact I think that’s a direct quote from that discussion). –

The problem here is one of history as well as theory. From a historical perspective it’s not clear to me that the killing of as many as 7 million people (mostly, but not exclusively, of the Jewish faith) is more worthy of recognition than the killing of 10 million people in the Congo or the killing of 100 million people in India. The common thread is that all of these atrocities were committed by Europeans – Germans, Belgians and British Europeans to be precise. The Holocaust is one of many terrible atrocities that one could cite by way of analogy when faced with a current example of a militarised population murdering civilians. –

Out of all of these examples, only the Holocaust has been universally recognised in our culture as an act of unspeakable evil. If I write a science fiction book about a guy who comes to power and starts killing people, I don’t compare my character to King Leopold or Winston Churchill (though those would be perfectly reasonable analogies). If I want to explain to someone in an instant that my character is a very bad person, I compare him to Hitler. –

If you ask anyone – even someone as thick as Konstantin Kisin seems to be in this interview – what was bad about the Nazis, they’ll have the right answer. The Nazi engaged in the systemic oppression and murder of entire categories of people (Jews, Socialists, Romani, queer people, etc). They not only committed those atrocities, they declared their intent to “rid Europe of its Jews” to paraphrase some of the language of the “Final Solution”. So when we have similar language from Israeli officials – “We will eliminate everything”, “Erase them, their families, mothers and children. These animals can no longer live.” – not to mention the killing of tens of thousands of women and children, is it not time to make the obvious analogy without fear? –

Ultimately those who argue for the sacrosanct status of the Holocaust are guilty of creating the circumstances by which the Holocaust can be repeated. Is the lesson from the Holocaust a particular lesson or a universal one? Does it only apply to European Jews who were living in Europe in the 1930s and 40s? If so, then there is no lesson of the Holocaust. The exact circumstances of 1930s Europe will never be repeated; therefore there’s nothing to learn from the holocaust if you believe that all of those circumstances must be in place in order to justify an analogy. –

The only way in which there is anything to learn from the Holocaust is if we take it as a universal principle – no group should be targeted and killed just because they are members of that group. The universality of the Holocaust underlies the entire human rights framework (which was largely written in response to the Holocaust). The group in question doesn’t matter – those who have devoted their lives to human rights often cite atrocities committed against Armenians and people from East Timor as some of the worst atrocities ever. Both of those groups happen to be Christians who were persecuted by Muslims. So the cries of antisemitism make no sense either – those who are fighting against genocide fight against all of them, especially those that their own government is complicit in. –

..::” If we do not universalise the lessons from the Holocaust, if we accept that there’s something that’s sacrosanct about it, what is that thing that is sacrosanct? It’s not the number of people killed – those numbers have been exceeded in Africa and in Asia. Is it the religion of those who were murdered? Given the long history of antisemitism in Europe that seems unlikely. So what is it that gives the Holocaust this unique status? –

I don’t have an answer to this question, but I do have a guess. I fear that what makes the Holocaust against European Jews sacrosanct is the fact that they were European. African and Asian genocides don’t have the right sort of victims. Black people dying we can live with, but white people dying? Never Again (repeated over and over, and repeated by the exact same people who are simultaneously justifying the murder of thousands of Palestinian children). –

The preoccupation with one particular genocide above all others may or may not be due to racism. But it is a preoccupation that does exist. We make (mediocre) movies about escaping the Nazis, we write (and read) novels about the Nazis, and so on. It’s the one example of genocide that firmly ensconced in the public imagination. Those of us who are actually in favour of universal human rights have an obligation to use this example – the only example that the public really gets – as part of our effort to end the current genocide. –

Bassem Youssef was essentially asked what he would do if he was put in the situation of being in charge of an ongoing genocidal occupation. His answer is absolutely the right one – he would end that occupation and the genocide. But in order to get this point through the thick heads of those who seem intent on insisting that this war is like any other, we should not shy away from historical analogies, including the analogy to World War 2 when appropriate. ***

Sameer Dossani is co-director of Peace Vigil, an organisation dedicated to Peace Education. They are online at: PeaceVigil.net

..::” What is the  meaning of the ACIM quote: “Every accusation is a confession”

AI Answer:

The phrase “every accusation is a confession” is a powerful statement from A Course in Miracles (ACIM).  It speaks to the underlying dynamics of projection, judgment, and the nature of our true Self. Here’s a breakdown of its meaning within the framework of ACIM.

Key Concepts:

The Illusion of Separation: ACIM teaches that the perceived separation between the Self and the world, including other people, is an illusion. We are all part of a unified field of consciousness, and any perceived differences are merely projections of our own minds.

Projection:

When we judge or accuse others, we are actually projecting our own unacknowledged thoughts, feelings, and beliefs onto them. We see in others what we are unwilling to see in ourselves.

The Ego’s Defense Mechanism:

The ego, ACIM’s term for the part of our mind that operates from fear and separation, uses projection as a defense mechanism to protect itself from facing its own darkness. By blaming others, we avoid taking responsibility for our own shortcomings.

How “Every Accusation is a Confession”Applies:

Self-Knowledge:

When we accuse someone, we are unwittingly revealing a hidden aspect of ourselves. The accusation is a confession of our own internal state.

Example:

If we accuse someone of being selfish, we might be unconsciously projecting our own sense of selfishness onto them. Deep down, we may be afraid of being seen as selfish ourselves, so we project it onto others.

Shifting Perspective:

Recognizing this principle can be a powerful catalyst for self-awareness. Instead of focusing on the perceived faults of others, we can use accusations as an opportunity to look inward and examine our own beliefs and motivations.

The Path to Healing:

ACIM encourages us to move beyond the ego’s defenses and embrace the truth of our unity with all beings. By recognizing the projections we make, we can begin to heal our own wounds and release the judgments that keep us trapped in the illusion of separation.

In essence, “every accusation is a confession” is a call to self-reflection and self-awareness.  It reminds us that the path to true peace and understanding lies in confronting our own darkness and extending forgiveness to ourselves and others.  

Larry

https://empathymatters.org/now