Two Years of Building Community & Cultivating Compassion

Just over 2 years ago, the world changed forever.

As the novel coronavirus spread, we went into lockdown. It was a scary, isolating, and overwhelming time for many.

That’s when I decided to start Calm & Connect.

When in-person community was no longer an option, it became extremely fulfilling to be a part of, and to create, this global community.

Through this experience I’ve learned that during disconnected and isolating times, what’s needed most is compassion and connection.?

There is often a misunderstanding about compassion – that it is, in some ways synonymous with complacency or laxness.?

Compassion is not weak. It is strong, kind, and it seeks to listen, to understand, and call forth the best of ourselves and others, kindly and powerfully. ?It encourages connection and bridges divides: within ourselves and with others.?

Compassion does not mean condoning behavior you do not agree with or that is harmful. However, even those with whom you have difficult relationships, you can still wish them well, that they be at peace, healthy in mind, body and spirit.?

Consider those relationships for a moment. Should those individuals truly be at peace - healthy in body mind and spirit, your relationship would transform. And while you cannot change others, you CAN change your reactions towards them - and how much you allow their actions to disturb your inner peace.??

The power in that compassion creates confidence, expanding the mind and body, and a strength unlike any other.? When we nurture that confidence & strength we begin to see how compassion truly bridges divides and creates collaborative conversations where distress would otherwise be present. This is power that the great leaders speak of- leaders that have experienced extreme hardship and tumult such as the Dalai Lama or Mother Teresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, or Golda Meir.

Right now, with tension so high, it is more critical than ever to have compassion for yourself and for others. Because when you do not acknowledge and first bring compassion to yourself and how you are feeling, you cannot be present for others.?

And when you fail to be present and extend compassion to others, you are less able to contribute to the collective healing. Instead, you can inadvertently contribute to the greater, and quite prevalent, divisiveness.

So the question we must ask ourselves is how do we want to show up for ourselves and our community at large? Where is our energy best spent?

For me, one way has been through this community.

Through C&C, I’ve fostered connections with people from around the world, many of whom I have never met in person, but who, within one or two sessions, I felt deeply linked to in an honest, meaningful way.?

There, no matter the background or experience, we have cultivated a space of compassion and connection- a space of grounding in an ungrounded time.

It has become a reset that allows us to step out of the mayhem, volatility, and uncertainty into a calming and safe space.?

As one Calm & Connect participant said, “I always come away feeling completely reset and grounded. I think it's a combination of meditation, the accompanying topics thoughtfully led by Rachel & all the interesting, wise & insightful input from everyone. Every time I think it’s wonderful & can’t believe each meet just keeps giving! I feel lucky to be part of it all.”

I’m so grateful for the last 2 years with the Calm & Connect community, and I can’t wait to continue Meditating, growing & learning together.?

To sign up for Calm & Connect (no previous Meditation experience necessary!), click here.

#consciousleadershipconsciousliving #gratitude #connection #community #communitybuilding??