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Compassionate Conversation Toolkit: Breath (Body, Being)
Surprisingly, when a conference attendee asked how to begin the journey of compassion, I heard the word breath whispered. For a split second, the whisper unbalanced me with its resonance. What followed immediately was equally strange, for it was a cheeky certitude, akin to what I imagine would be the sense of elation a child who’ve just been shown where the treasure chest of candies are, may feel! Then I had a decision to make, i.e. stick with my prepared script, or follow the breath. The latter felt more fun 😊
Upon accepting the invitation to step into the privacy of another’s suffering, it’s wise to remind oneself that the terrain is always new. Yes, though there may be some sense of familiarity in a word, a phrase, a tone, a cadence, a glance, a silence … no landscape of suffering is ever exactly the same, even if it’s that of the same individual. Which is to say, no one really knows what to expect. Thus vigilance, humility, and being quick-witted are quite necessary skills, to keep safe both one’s self and that of the individual whom one is companioning, vis-a-vis managing unexpected emotions.
Contrary to popular belief, it is FOCUS, and not calmness that unlocks these skills.
