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Tag: compassion

  • ‘Compassion is alive and well’: Volusia County food drive helps SNAP recipients

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    THANK YOU DAVID. MEANWHILE, SNAP RECIPIENTS ARE STILL STRUGGLING AS THE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES. JUST YESTERDAY, THE SUPREME COURT LET THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TEMPORARILY WITHHOLD ABOUT $4 BILLION IN BENEFITS. BUT HELP IS IN THE WORKS AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, THE VOLUSIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AS WELL, AND THE JEWISH FEDERATION PARTNERED TO PUT TOGETHER A FOOD DRIVE IN LESS THAN FOUR DAYS. TODAY. THE CARS KEPT COMING AND THE FOOD KEPT PILING UP UNTIL THEY COLLECTED 200,000 POUNDS OF FOOD, ENOUGH TO FEED 5000 FAMILIES WHO DEPEND ON SNAP. THAT’S BEEN AFFECTED BY THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NOW IN U.S. HISTORY. THIS COMMUNITY DID THIS TOGETHER, AND IN A WORLD WHERE IT FEELS LIKE COMPASSION IS LOST, THIS COUNTY HAS SHOWN COMPASSION IS ALIVE AND WELL. AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT’S MORE INSPIRING THAN THAT. ARE YOU AMAZED? STUNNED? IT WAS BREATHTAKING TO SEE THAT LINE THAT STILL. I MEAN, HERE’S PEOPLE STILL PULLING IN, DROPPING OFF BAGS AND BAGS AND BAGS OF FOOD AND THAT STUFF THAT WAS LAYING IN YOUR GARAGE WHEN WHEN YOU HAD A FLOOD. THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY WENT TO ALDI, THEY WENT TO WALMART, THEY WENT TO PUBLIX, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. TOMORROW AT THE SPEEDWAY, FOLKS IN NEED CAN TAKE FOOD. THAT WAS COLLECTED TODAY, BUT THERE ARE TWO REQUIREMENTS. YOU HAVE TO SHOW PROOF THAT YOU ARE IN THE SNAP PROGRAM AND THAT YOU ARE A VOLUSIA COUNTY RESIDENT.

    ‘Compassion is alive and well’: Volusia County food drive helps SNAP recipients

    Updated: 8:13 PM EST Nov 8, 2025

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    As the government shutdown continues, SNAP recipients are struggling, but Volusia County residents have rallied to collect 200,000 pounds of food for families affected by the suspension of benefits.Just yesterday, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to temporarily withhold about $4 billion in benefits. In response, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Jewish Federation organized a food drive at Daytona International Speedway in under four days.Today, cars arrived, and food donations accumulated until they reached 200,000 pounds, enough to feed 5,000 families who rely on the SNAP program.Rabbi Rob Lennick of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties said, “We did this together, and in a world where it feels like compassion is lost, this county has shown compassion is alive and well. And I tell you, what’s more inspiring than that.”Sheriff Mike Chitwood of Volusia County expressed his amazement at the community’s response, saying, “Are you amazed? Stunned. It was breathtaking to see that line. There are still people pulling in and dropping off bags and bags of food. And not stuff that was lying in your garage from when you had a flood. These are people who went to Aldi’s, they went to Walmart, they went to Publix.”Tomorrow at the Speedway, those in need can collect the food gathered today. There are two requirements: proof of participation in the SNAP program and residency in Volusia County. The food distribution will begin at 11 a.m.

    VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —

    As the government shutdown continues, SNAP recipients are struggling, but Volusia County residents have rallied to collect 200,000 pounds of food for families affected by the suspension of benefits.

    Just yesterday, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to temporarily withhold about $4 billion in benefits.

    In response, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the Jewish Federation organized a food drive at Daytona International Speedway in under four days.

    Today, cars arrived, and food donations accumulated until they reached 200,000 pounds, enough to feed 5,000 families who rely on the SNAP program.

    This content is imported from YouTube.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    Rabbi Rob Lennick of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties said, “We did this together, and in a world where it feels like compassion is lost, this county has shown compassion is alive and well. And I tell you, what’s more inspiring than that.”

    Sheriff Mike Chitwood of Volusia County expressed his amazement at the community’s response, saying, “Are you amazed? Stunned. It was breathtaking to see that line. There are still people pulling in and dropping off bags and bags of food. And not stuff that was lying in your garage from when you had a flood. These are people who went to Aldi’s, they went to Walmart, they went to Publix.”

    Tomorrow at the Speedway, those in need can collect the food gathered today. There are two requirements: proof of participation in the SNAP program and residency in Volusia County. The food distribution will begin at 11 a.m.

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  • Science Says (Sometimes) Going Easy On Yourself Makes You More Likely to Achieve Your Biggest Goals

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    Where responding to a setback on the path towards achieving a huge goal is concerned, most people tend to fall somewhere inside these two extremes:

    1. You think, “I’m better than this,” and are really hard on yourself.
    2. You think, “No one’s perfect,” and give yourself a break.

    Over the long term, which mindset do you think leads to higher levels of achievement? If you’re like the vast majority of the people I polled on LinkedIn, you choose choose “really hard on myself.” Makes sense: a relentless drive for perfection is the key to self-improvement. Not being too had on yourself? Accepting anything less than excellence? Saying, “That’s okay. I tried.”?

    No self-respecting, hard-charging, success-oriented person thinks that way.

    Except they do, especially if they want to achieve difficult goals.

    According to a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, treating yourself with self-compassion — seeing weaknesses, failures, and mistakes as a natural part of life — better motivates people to improve weaknesses and improve performance.

    As the researchers write, “These findings suggest that, somewhat paradoxically, taking an accepting approach to personal failure may make people more motivated to improve themselves.”

    Granted, mental toughness builds the foundation for long-term success. But being hard on yourself won’t develop mental toughness. A study published in Self and Identity found that the increased stress that results from self-criticism actually increases procrastination. That’s a form of “mental toughness” no one can afford.

    So what’s a better approach? Self compassion, blended with a little growth mindset.

    Granted, self-compassion sounds a little too warm and fuzzy, especially for someone with my upbringing. Self-respect and self-regard, constantly reminding yourself that you not only could but should do better, keeps you pushing forward.

    That’s where also embracing a growth mindset comes in. According to research on achievement and success by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, people tend to embrace one of two mental approaches to talent:

    • Fixed mindset: The belief that intelligence, ability, and skill are inborn and relatively fixed–we “have” what we were born with. People with a fixed mindset typically say things like, “I’m just not that smart,” or “Math is not my thing.”
    • Growth mindset: The belief that intelligence, ability, and skill can be developed through effort–we are what we work to become. People with a growth mindset typically say things like, “If I keep working, I’ll get it,” or “That’s okay. I just need to keep trying.”

    No matter how high your self-esteem, when assume that you are what you are, and the going gets tough, you start to feel helpless. What you “are” isn’t good enough. When you think that, you put things off. Or even stop trying. Why keep trying, when more effort won’t matter?

    That’s why people with a growth mindset tend to go easier on themselves — but without easing their focus on improvement or achievement.

    Instead of saying, “I should be better than this,” people with a growth mindset think, “That didn’t go perfectly. But that’s okay: I worked hard, learned a few things, and know what to do differently next time.”

    Embracing self-compassion doesn’t mean relaxing standards or seeking to achieve “smaller” goals. Embracing self-compassion just means accepting that failure is a natural step on the road to eventual achievement. 

    And that risks, especially to your self-esteem, aren’t something to avoid, because everyone makes mistakes. Everyone fails. The people who succeed, in whatever way they define “success,” are the people who find the motivation to keep trying.

    Which, according to science, are the people who set hard goals.

    And, counterintuitive as it may sound, go easy on themselves along the way, because one mistake or failure isn’t the end of the road.

    It’s just part of the journey.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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    Jeff Haden

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  • Embracing Heart-Led Living Amidst Divisive Influences

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    It is a significant task to tame our minds and connect with our hearts, especially amid external influences that divide and manipulate. As we navigate complex beliefs and divisive rhetoric, fostering unity and compassion becomes paramount for our shared humanity. Let’s step back from the chaos, find inner harmony, and strive to spread love and peace in our daily interactions.

    Heart-led living requires us to tune into the whispers of the heart and invite those messages to be amplified. Easier said than done, no doubt, especially when we’re inundated with thousands of messages everyday triggering us to do the exact opposite.

    To be clear, this isn’t about becoming ‘soft’ or weakened, or needing to hop onto the woowoo train. No. Leading and living from the heart invites us to tune in to the root of our confidence, where we are in complete alignment with our soul and becoming wildly strong.

    To tune into our hearts, we must first quiet our minds and reflect on our core beliefs, and distinguish between those rooted in love or fear, abundance or lack, unity or division. Failing to do so makes us susceptible to societal chaos and propaganda, disconnecting us from the source of universal love and reality.

    We cannot tune into our hearts when we have never taken a moment to try and tame our own minds, to ask the most basic of questions: 

    What do I believe?

    Why do I believe what I believe? 

    Are the core beliefs I have built my life upon based on love or fear? Abundance or lack? ‘Us’ vs. ’Them’?

    Without asking big questions of ourselves and sitting quietly to explore the answers honestly, free of ego, we become easy prey. 

    When society is in chaos we get swept into the game. We easily become manipulated by the propaganda, the fear, and internal soul conflict that becomes reflected in our day-to-day interactions. 

    Our pain points have been tapped and we are lost- further disconnected from the heart, the source of universal love, as our minds become less hinged to what is real.

    We all have our inherent biases, but it is only when a foundational truth is challenged that more people wake up and rise up against the new agents of war: manipulative messaging, catch phrases, trending hashtags, and cancel culture, where every mobile device is the weapon. 

    The thing about propaganda is that most people can only see it conflict strongly with a pre-established belief, and in most cases, there is a pre-existing social network that is also in agreement.

    We think we see it so clearly as we ask:

    How is everyone being manipulated by this? it’s so obvious… 

    How can you of all people not see?

    They’re spreading lies.

    Can’t they see how clearly this stance contradicts what they were outraged about last month?

    It takes a lot ego-checking to see the persuasive messaging and manipulation when it aligns with our existing beliefs and confirms our own biases.

    We especially love when a person who, for all superficial reasons, should be with the ‘other side’ but instead affirms our beliefs and views. We love that. That gives us an I told you so and even one of *yours* says I’m right affirmation.

    Challenging this is hard work for the brain. 

    We watch the news networks, follow the accounts, and now it seems, keep only the friends that affirm us. 

    We share the stories that make us right and call ‘misinformation’ to those that make us wrong. We immediately say the other is lying (and they may very well be), doing whatever it takes to make us feel more and more right. 

    With all of this, what we are actually doing is disconnecting further from the heart. Without realizing it, as we feel so empowered and right, we too have become agents of division.

    What a thing to witness, watching people shuffle around every other week to work out the new “team” they’re on with whatever issue we are to be outraged about, and working out who from the old team is coming along to this new one. Along with this, we now check in on who we are now disappointed by and must separate ourselves from.  It’s a rapid action of follows and unfollows to remain in our safe, belief affirming echo chamber.

    It gets tricky though. 

    For when we are persistently swayed by the all mighty external messaging powers, we lose our way, don’t we? 

    Many of us can see it. Having complex beliefs around complex topics is complex to reckon with.

    When you can see it from the outside, what you are witnessing is a complete loss of self as the heart and mind cannot contend with the ridiculous hypocrisy and most basic impossible conflict of how one stance can’t actually exist in alignment with the last one taken. 

    We lose the ability to tame our own minds, to tune into our hearts, and to truly know thyself.

    We forget that we are all human, and we are all connected. 

    The human species requires deep connection for basic survival, but the ongoing need to align with a side only causes more division- especially when that alignment is based on what was read in memes or trending videos (which are, of course, just more of the aforementioned tools of control). 

    To continue creating separation from others only serves our own growing sense of aloneness and separation from our own souls, while feeding the thin veneer of righteousness.

    What we are all feeling is our basic sense of humanity:  outrage at the suffering, and a yearning for justice that will never come through aggressive, divisive action. 

    Where does it end? 

    We choose.

    The answer to all of this is easy to speak, but takes a monumental amount of work to accomplish.

    It can end when we all find ourselves standing alone, completely divided over the abundance of very real issues we are told to take a side on to the point where we each exist utterly and completely alone, afraid to broach difficult topics and have the necessary difficult conversations. The result of this culture, of course, is that we silence the now nearly inaudible wise whisper of our own heart, and give in to the pull of the tide, the all encompassing, ear splitting roar of the media machine. 

    Or it can end when we decide to join hands, tune in and live and lead from the heart, to not allow that external voice to get any louder and instead work to amplify the whisper of the heart. It ends when we choose to love, allowing the infinite tidal wave of compassion that exists within all of our hearts to take the lead. 

    It ends when, in our everyday lives, not as keyboard warriors, we are walking embodiments of peace. 

    It ends when we look up from our screens and into each others eyes and see that we all want the same thing.

    We smile.

    We serve.

    We love unconditionally.

    We aim to be the joy, the delight, and the inspiration in someone else’s day.

    We operate from kindness.

    What if we extricate ourselves from the nitty gritty horrific details? Yes, you can know the news, but then step back and get centred. Get into coherence, into harmony, and ask, what can I do today to be an agent of love and peace? How can I choose, in this moment and the next, to live and lead from the heart?

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    Meghan Telpner

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  • Compassion Center, Coalition for Patients’ Rights, and Integrative Providers Association Urge Senate to Confirm RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services

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    UNITED SUPPORT FOR RFK JR. AT HHS: The Compassion Center, Coalition for Patients’ Rights, and Integrative Providers Association urge the Senate to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Citing his decades-long advocacy for patient rights, environmental responsibility, and integrative care, they see a transformative opportunity to restore trust, champion preventative solutions, and reduce chronic disease. They call for swift action to usher in an era of holistic, compassion-driven leadership. We stand ready.


    Online, January 29, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Compassion Center, the Coalition for Patients’ Rights, and the Integrative Providers Association stand together in strong support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). We urge the Senate to move forward with his confirmation, recognizing the urgent need for leadership that prioritizes patient rights, healthcare accessibility, and holistic, science-backed solutions.

    For decades, Secretary Kennedy has been a champion of public health, environmental responsibility, and medical freedom. His leadership presents a unique opportunity to reshape American healthcare by integrating preventative care, patient empowerment, plant-based and all-natural medicines and sustainable policies that improve lives while reducing the burden of chronic disease.

    A Call for Compassion and Common Sense

    As organizations committed to advancing patient-centered, integrative healthcare, we believe this confirmation is the next crucial step toward restoring trust and effectiveness in our Nation’s healthcare systems. To those who are in opposition, we gently suggest: perhaps step aside, take a deep breath, and enjoy a healthy meal. A clear mind and a nourished body might just help us all see the true value in leadership that puts compassion, integrity, and patient well-being above politics.

    The Path Forward

    The American people deserve a healthcare system that is accessible, ethical, and built on prevention and sustainability. With Secretary Kennedy’s leadership at HHS, we see a future that includes:

    • Greater access to integrative and preventative healthcare solutions that empower patients with security and affo.

    • Policies that promote nutritional health and environmental responsibility for long-term wellness.

    • A healthcare system that prioritizes transparency, informed consent, and patient rights.

    We urge the Senate to move forward with his confirmation and join us in supporting a new era of compassionate, patient-focused leadership.

    Join Us

    We invite policymakers, healthcare professionals, and advocates to stand with us in support of a future where patient rights, holistic health, and sustainable well-being are prioritized. The time for compassion and common-sense solutions is now.

    About Us
    The Compassion Center, Coalition for Patients’ Rights, and Integrative Providers Association are dedicated to advocating for healthcare reform that prioritizes patient empowerment, integrative medicine, and sustainable wellness solutions. We believe in a healthcare system that serves the people first-rooted in compassion, science, and the fundamental right to informed health choices.

    Founded in 2001, Compassion Center was founded by-patients, for-patients in the name of patients in Eugene, Oregon and has grown to serve patients in over 18 states. Compassion Center is dedicated to advancing professional education, patient advocacy and healthcare innovations that lead to improved access, affordability and equity.

    To learn more about the Compassion Center, visit: https://compassion-center.org/

    To learn more about the Coalition for Patient Rights, visit: https://coalitionforpatientrights.org/

    To learn more about the Integrative Providers Association, visit: www.IntegrativeProviders.org

    For media inquiries or to learn more about our initiatives, please contact:

    Contact Information

    Sophaur One
    Director of Communications
    sophaur.one@compassion-center.org
    844-842-2667 Ext 1

    James Garvey
    CIFR Director of Collaborative Programs
    james.garvey@compassion-center.org
    844-842-COMPASSION Ext 1

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

    SOURCE: Compassion Center

    Source: Compassion Center

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  • Integrative Providers Association (IPA), Coalition for Patient Rights (CPR) and Compassion Center Announce Unwavering Support for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services

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    Compassion Center, IPA and CPR call on all members of the Senate to support the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services-championing a new era of environmental stewardship, integrative healthcare, and robust patient rights. Compassion Center urges IPA and CPR members nationwide to join in unity with us and contact their Senators and endorse RFK Jr.’s mission to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’


    Online, January 14, 2025 (Newswire.com)
    –
    In a bold show of unity, the Integrative Providers Association (IPA) and the Coalition For Patient Rights (CPR) and Compassion Center today jointly announced their firm support for the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Citing his relentless advocacy for the environment and his long-standing commitment to public health, both membership organizations believe RFK’s leadership can unify essential reforms in healthcare, environmental stewardship, and social services to “Make America Healthy Again.”

    “Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. brings a blend of environmental passion and public-health advocacy that is unprecedented,” said Julie Monteiro, RN, BSK, President of Compassion Center. “Our nation needs leadership who can see the undeniable links between ecological well-being and human health. We couldn’t be more confident in RFK’s ability to steer us in a direction that addresses systemic healthcare challenges while championing patient rights and sustainable development.”

    Integrative Providers Association (IPA) is thrilled to endorse RFK Jr. while the Coalition For Patient Rights (CPR) is equally enthusiastic, highlighting how Secretary-designate Kennedy’s proven track record for challenging entrenched systems and inspiring transformative policy can be the change we all need to see. According to James Creel, CPR Board-Secretary, “RFK Jr. has never been afraid to confront powerful interests when the nation’s health and future are at stake. His stewardship at HHS will emphasize transparency, accountability, and patient-focused care, while reinforcing the need for an integrative approach that acknowledges both modern medicine and holistic well-being.”

    Together, Compassion Center, IPA and CPR call upon the Senate to swiftly confirm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Our organizations invite their respective memberships, and leadership delegations, along with healthcare advocates everywhere, to contact their Senators and voice support for RFK Jr.’s confirmation, pressing forward his agenda to merge environmental responsibility with patient-centric, accessible healthcare solutions.

    “Our membership knows first-hand the urgency of protecting patient rights, cleaning up our environment, and offering comprehensive, integrative and complementary care,” added Jason Greninger, C.S.T., a legislative advocate representing CPR National’s Board of Trustees and the Integrative Providers Association’s Advocacy Division. “We believe Secretary-designate Kennedy embodies the leadership we’ve been longing for-someone who will unify the mission of compassion, science, and sustainability all under one roof.”

    About Compassion Center
    Founded in 2001, Compassion Center is dedicated to improving access to integrative healthcare, mental health and social services. The organization serves patients in Oregon and 18 other states through its clinics, Patient Resource Centers, and patient advocacy programs. For more information on Compassion Center, please visit: www.Compassion-Center.org or www.Compassion-Center.net

    About the Integrative Providers Association (IPA)
    Speaking on behalf of over 1,400,000 licensed integrative healthcare professionals ranging from over 140 specialties including surgeons, dietitians and every interprofessional healthcare specialty in between, the Integrative Providers Association is a 501(c)(6) professional membership organization that discovers, educates, unites and empowers the future of integrative healthcare on behalf of integrative wholeness and inclusion for the betterment of tomorrow. For more information on the Integrative Providers Association (IPA), please visit: www.IntegrativeProviders.org

    About Coalition for Patient Rights
    The Coalition for Patient Rights is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization dedicated to standing up on behalf of patients’ rights in regards to healthcare, laws and the regulatory bodies that are put in place to protect the best interest of the public and public safety. For more information on the Coalition For Patient Rights, or to learn how to stand up and voice your unwavering support for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s confirmation, please visit www.MyCPR.us , or email coalition@coalitionforpatientrights.org with “RFK Support Group in the subject line. By joining forces, we can amplify the call to ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ ensuring every person has access to affordable, comprehensive, integrative healthcare and mental health care, so every community thrives, and every voice is heard in shaping the future of our healthcare system.

    Contact Information:

    James Garvey
    CIFR Director of Collaborative Programs
    james.garvey@compassion-center.org
    844-842-COMPASSION Ext 1

    Related Video

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

    SOURCE: Compassion Center

    Source: Compassion Center

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  • The Thousand Yard Stare: What Is it & How to Cope

    The Thousand Yard Stare: What Is it & How to Cope

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    The thousand-yard stare—its meaning goes deeper than looking out to a certain distance. The thing is, if you’ve seen a war movie or two, you’re likely to know what it is (even if you aren’t familiar with the term):

    A soldier in shell shock, gazing blankly into the distance with their eyes wide and vacant. It’s the kind of look that feels like it could pierce right through you, yet the person is a million miles away.

    This is what happened to Peter Lucas, a retired Marine who’s now a transformational coach and CEO of A Life on Purpose.

    “This term, the thousand-yard stare, for me personally, is more than just a blank stare into nothingness,” he tells Mindvalley Blog. It’s something that’s shown up in his life in more ways than he’d care to admit.

    So what does the “thousand-yard stare” mean, especially if you’re not tied to the military? Understanding its significance in terms of mental health can help you recognize the signs and make dealing with your own difficult emotions (or helping others) a little less daunting.

    It’s important to note: If you notice yourself or someone you care about exhibiting this stare frequently, it’s advisable to seek professional help.

    What Is a Thousand-Yard Stare?

    Originating from the military lexicon, the thousand-yard stare is used to describe the blank, emotionless expression of someone who has experienced significant trauma or psychological distress. Their eyes are often wide and vacant, with a withdrawn and unresponsive way about them.

    Peter himself, having been exposed to explosions, sirens, gunfire, and even “mangled human flesh,” found that it was a way for his mind to “deal with all that I have seen and experienced over a long period of time.” 

    However, this type of shell shock isn’t simply zoning out. Rather, it’s a way for the brain to cope with overwhelming emotions tied to trauma.

    What happens is, the nervous system gets flooded with stress hormones, which can be incredibly difficult to process. In response, the brain activates a defense mechanism called dissociation, which disrupts activity in areas like the amygdala (involved in processing emotions) and the medial prefrontal cortex (responsible for self-awareness).

    Now, dissociation (of which the thousand-yard stare is one) is a way of mentally detaching oneself from a situation or memory that’s too painful to process head-on. It creates a psychological distance from the traumatic experience.

    “So often, when we feel uncomfortable, we try to escape it,” explains Jennifer Patridge, a tapping expert and trainer of Mindvalley’s Tapping into Emotional Mastery Quest.

    “We may avoid it through scrolling on social media, numb it through substances, food, and sex, or simply try our very best to put on a happy face.” (Or, in this case, going off into the nether regions of your mind with that zombie look on your face.)

    It’s kind of like hitting the pause button on emotions. It gives a person some space to breathe and manage the overwhelming feelings before they can fully re-engage with what happened.

    Who gets it?

    “This typically happens to soldiers after they see something traumatic in the field of battle,” says Sterling Gordon Fournier in his TikTok video, which has garnered more than half a million views to date.

    However, it’s not exclusive to Marines with combat stress, like Peter.

    So who else can get the thousand-yard stare? Firefighters, police officers, and emergency responders, to name a few. 

    But still, if you’re career doesn’t revolve around seeing trauma, here are some other situations that might trigger it:

    • Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
    • Accidents or injuries
    • Grief and loss
    • Chronic illness

    What’s important to remember is, the thousand-yard stare isn’t a diagnosis in and of itself. It’s a symptom that can point to deeper emotional issues.

    The Thousand-Yard Stare In Children

    Undoubtedly, seeing a thousand-yard stare in a child can be incredibly concerning. Here’s what it might look like:

    • Withdrawn and disconnected, staring into space for long periods with a vacant expression.
    • Avoid eye contact or make fleeting eye contact that seems distant and unfocused.
    • Numb or emotionally flat, not reacting as strongly to happy or sad situations as they usually would.
    • Appear listless or have a slumped posture.

    Just like adults, children might use this type of dissociation as a coping mechanism for psychological trauma. 

    What Causes the Thousand-Yard Stare?

    Anything can trigger the thousand-yard stare—from witnessing violence to experiencing neglect or abuse to trauma bonds, even seemingly less dramatic events like a difficult move or a bullying situation.

    “When trauma takes place, whether that be emotional, mental, or physical trauma, often our brain and nervous system store a feeling of not being safe,” says Jennifer.

    Studies have shown that when people experience extreme stress, their brains may activate dissociation as a defense mechanism. By doing so, they can create a psychological distance from the painful reality they face.

    It’s a kind of emotional self-preservation mechanism. One that allows them to numb themselves to the emotional intensity of their trauma.

    “My inability to detach myself from my experiences from the past,” Peter shares, “robbed me of the ability to remain present.” 

    So it’s incredibly important to understand that dissociation is a temporary coping mechanism. It’s absolutely not a long-term solution.

    A woman with the thousand-yard stare in her kitchen

    3 Ways That Can Help Heal From the 1000-Yard Stare

    The thousand-yard stare is a symptom of dissociation, not a condition itself. Therefore, treating someone with it focuses more on addressing the underlying cause—trauma.

    So how is the thousand-yard stare treated?

    Therapy often takes center stage here.

    Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can equip you with tools to manage stress and cope with difficult situations in healthier ways. What’s more, techniques like EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) can help reduce the emotional intensity of memories.

    These methods can be supported with complementary therapy. Here are a few to consider:

    1. EFT (emotional freedom technique) tapping

    EFT tapping involves gently tapping on specific acupressure points while focusing on the traumatic memory or negative emotions. This practice aims to disrupt the connection between the memory and the emotional response.

    Jennifer explains that when you do so, you “rewire those pathways and reactive responses to actually experience safety, healing, and love again.”

    2. Hypnotherapy

    Hypnotherapy can be helpful in processing trauma in a safe and controlled environment. It doesn’t involve mind control; rather, it’s working with a hypnotherapist to access your deeper thoughts and memories for healing.

    There are several techniques that renowned hypnotherapist Paul McKenna teaches in his Everyday Bliss Quest on Mindvalley. This includes thought field therapy tapping, the Havening Technique, and the Big Mind Technique.

    3. Lucid dreaming

    Lucid dreaming can be a powerful tool for self-exploration. It’s where you’re aware that you’re dreaming, and you can potentially even gain some control over what’s happening in it.

    While it’s not a mainstream therapy yet, there has been research that suggests it could be helpful in PTSD recovery. A 2023 study, led by a team that included lucid dreaming expert and Mindvalley trainer Charlie Morley, showed that over 85% of the participants were “no longer classified as having post-traumatic stress disorder.”

    “PTSD and trauma nightmares are disempowering experiences,” explains Charlie in his Experience Lucid Dreaming Quest on Mindvalley. “But to become fully aware within a nightmare and know that it is just a dream is a deeply empowering experience.”

    Heal. Rise. Thrive.

    The truth of the matter is, healing is possible. Peter attributed his to yoga and reading “all things about getting to know myself better.”

    Another simple yet powerful technique that can help you heal from within is tapping—and you can learn how in Mindvalley’s Tapping into Emotional Mastery Quest.

    Led by Jennifer Patridge, this program empowers you to release blockages and experience a deep sense of emotional freedom and peace.

    Bryn Jordaan, a survivor of childhood trauma (who’s also a Mindvalley Member), probably said it best: “This is one of those LIFE HACKS we all need to have in our life toolkit.”

    You can experience firsthand what he’s talking about when you sign up for a free Mindvalley account. With it, you’ll gain access to the first few lessons of the Quest and see how effective this tool is to help you break free from emotional damage.

    Welcome in.

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    Tatiana Azman

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  • Embracing Heart-Led Living Amidst Divisive Influences

    Embracing Heart-Led Living Amidst Divisive Influences

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    It is a significant task to tame our minds and connect with our hearts, especially amid external influences that divide and manipulate. As we navigate complex beliefs and divisive rhetoric, fostering unity and compassion becomes paramount for our shared humanity. Let’s step back from the chaos, find inner harmony, and strive to spread love and peace in our daily interactions.

    Heart-led living requires us to tune into the whispers of the heart and invite those messages to be amplified. Easier said than done, no doubt, especially when we’re inundated with thousands of messages everyday triggering us to do the exact opposite.

    To be clear, this isn’t about becoming ‘soft’ or weakened, or needing to hop onto the woowoo train. No. Leading and living from the heart invites us to tune in to the root of our confidence, where we are in complete alignment with our soul and becoming wildly strong.

    To tune into our hearts, we must first quiet our minds and reflect on our core beliefs, and distinguish between those rooted in love or fear, abundance or lack, unity or division. Failing to do so makes us susceptible to societal chaos and propaganda, disconnecting us from the source of universal love and reality.

    We cannot tune into our hearts when we have never taken a moment to try and tame our own minds, to ask the most basic of questions: 

    What do I believe?

    Why do I believe what I believe? 

    Are the core beliefs I have built my life upon based on love or fear? Abundance or lack? ‘Us’ vs. ’Them’?

    Without asking big questions of ourselves and sitting quietly to explore the answers honestly, free of ego, we become easy prey. 

    When society is in chaos we get swept into the game. We easily become manipulated by the propaganda, the fear, and internal soul conflict that becomes reflected in our day-to-day interactions. 

    Our pain points have been tapped and we are lost- further disconnected from the heart, the source of universal love, as our minds become less hinged to what is real.

    We all have our inherent biases, but it is only when a foundational truth is challenged that more people wake up and rise up against the new agents of war: manipulative messaging, catch phrases, trending hashtags, and cancel culture, where every mobile device is the weapon. 

    The thing about propaganda is that most people can only see it conflict strongly with a pre-established belief, and in most cases, there is a pre-existing social network that is also in agreement.

    We think we see it so clearly as we ask:

    How is everyone being manipulated by this? it’s so obvious… 

    How can you of all people not see?

    They’re spreading lies.

    Can’t they see how clearly this stance contradicts what they were outraged about last month?

    It takes a lot ego-checking to see the persuasive messaging and manipulation when it aligns with our existing beliefs and confirms our own biases.

    We especially love when a person who, for all superficial reasons, should be with the ‘other side’ but instead affirms our beliefs and views. We love that. That gives us an I told you so and even one of *yours* says I’m right affirmation.

    Challenging this is hard work for the brain. 

    We watch the news networks, follow the accounts, and now it seems, keep only the friends that affirm us. 

    We share the stories that make us right and call ‘misinformation’ to those that make us wrong. We immediately say the other is lying (and they may very well be), doing whatever it takes to make us feel more and more right. 

    With all of this, what we are actually doing is disconnecting further from the heart. Without realizing it, as we feel so empowered and right, we too have become agents of division.

    What a thing to witness, watching people shuffle around every other week to work out the new “team” they’re on with whatever issue we are to be outraged about, and working out who from the old team is coming along to this new one. Along with this, we now check in on who we are now disappointed by and must separate ourselves from.  It’s a rapid action of follows and unfollows to remain in our safe, belief affirming echo chamber.

    It gets tricky though. 

    For when we are persistently swayed by the all mighty external messaging powers, we lose our way, don’t we? 

    Many of us can see it. Having complex beliefs around complex topics is complex to reckon with.

    When you can see it from the outside, what you are witnessing is a complete loss of self as the heart and mind cannot contend with the ridiculous hypocrisy and most basic impossible conflict of how one stance can’t actually exist in alignment with the last one taken. 

    We lose the ability to tame our own minds, to tune into our hearts, and to truly know thyself.

    We forget that we are all human, and we are all connected. 

    The human species requires deep connection for basic survival, but the ongoing need to align with a side only causes more division- especially when that alignment is based on what was read in memes or trending videos (which are, of course, just more of the aforementioned tools of control). 

    To continue creating separation from others only serves our own growing sense of aloneness and separation from our own souls, while feeding the thin veneer of righteousness.

    What we are all feeling is our basic sense of humanity:  outrage at the suffering, and a yearning for justice that will never come through aggressive, divisive action. 

    Where does it end? 

    We choose.

    The answer to all of this is easy to speak, but takes a monumental amount of work to accomplish.

    It can end when we all find ourselves standing alone, completely divided over the abundance of very real issues we are told to take a side on to the point where we each exist utterly and completely alone, afraid to broach difficult topics and have the necessary difficult conversations. The result of this culture, of course, is that we silence the now nearly inaudible wise whisper of our own heart, and give in to the pull of the tide, the all encompassing, ear splitting roar of the media machine. 

    Or it can end when we decide to join hands, tune in and live and lead from the heart, to not allow that external voice to get any louder and instead work to amplify the whisper of the heart. It ends when we choose to love, allowing the infinite tidal wave of compassion that exists within all of our hearts to take the lead. 

    It ends when, in our everyday lives, not as keyboard warriors, we are walking embodiments of peace. 

    It ends when we look up from our screens and into each others eyes and see that we all want the same thing.

    We smile.

    We serve.

    We love unconditionally.

    We aim to be the joy, the delight, and the inspiration in someone else’s day.

    We operate from kindness.

    What if we extricate ourselves from the nitty gritty horrific details? Yes, you can know the news, but then step back and get centred. Get into coherence, into harmony, and ask, what can I do today to be an agent of love and peace? How can I choose, in this moment and the next, to live and lead from the heart?

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    Meghan Telpner

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  • Resilience and the 6 C’s of Coping | LoveAndLifeToolBox

    Resilience and the 6 C’s of Coping | LoveAndLifeToolBox

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    Resilience is the ability to recover from adversity which can include illness, loss, financial instability, natural disasters and any other highly stressful events.  With all we have been through globally in the last several years, it’s evident people have learned how to cope with a lot of challenges.  Sadly, the undulating waves of collective stress, worry and grief continue, while bearing witness to an unprovoked war and unfolding human tragedy in Ukraine.

    There is a palpable sense of feeling frayed again and time for a reminder about how to pool your inner resources to weather these storms.  The book, Bouncing Back:  Rewire Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being, by Linda Graham, MFT, is an excellent resource to do just that.  Here are some important nuggets you can practice now to help you move forward in the best way possible.

    Resilience and the 6 C’s of Coping

    1 – Calm

    Learn to regulate your flight, fight, freeze response to experience inner peace vs numbness or collapse.

    Try This:  Hand on the Heart 

    Place your hand on your heart, close your eyes and breathe gently.  Call to mind a moment with someone who loves you unconditionally.  Feel the moment with them, notice their kind expression towards you.  If no one comes to mind you may use a religious figure or pet.  Experience the feelings associated with being in this safe and held space.

    Oxytocin, the hormone of safety, calm and connect, is the brain’s antidote to the stress hormone, cortisol. Exposure, even imagined, to the people we feel secure with can release oxytocin.  Physical touch can amplify that sensation.

    2 – Compassion

    Compassion helps to overcome your negativity bias to be more optimistic and flexible.  Self-compassion is awareness and acceptance of what’s going on internally.  Kristen Neff, PhD speaks of “putting your own oxygen mask on first” which helps you to notice, recognize and have compassion for your moment of suffering.

    Try this:  Seeing Yourself as Others See You

    Imagine sitting across from someone who truly loves you, then switch places and imagine yourself as they see you and why they love you.  Take in the good of what they see.  Then imagine  yourself as you again, taking in their love.

    3 – Clarity

    Understanding that thoughts are simply thoughts is the first step towards improved clarity in challenging situations.  Often times we can slip into a cascade of thoughts leading to emotions that don’t serve well, particularly if the original thought is not an accurate assessment of the situation.  Belief systems can be at the root of the original thought so familiarity with your underlying beliefs serves to improve clarity.

    Every moment brings a choice, and every choice has an impact. 

    – Julia Butterfly Hill

    4 – Connections to Resources

    The more you can tap into the resources around you, the more support and grounding you’ll be able to call upon in moments of distress.  People, practices and places can all serve as external resources for resilience.  Be aware of who is in your life that can be a support.  Get familiar with practices such as daily gratitude journaling and taking in the good of particular moments to get resourced.  Nature has been shown to improve brain functioning.  Find a sacred spot or refuge outdoors that you can go to.

    5 – Competence

    Feeling empowered and a felt sense of, “I can!” is an important skill for resilience.  Identify the story you carry about your competence.  Does it serve you?  Is it

    accurate?

    Try this:  Create a Coherent Narrative

    Take a recent incident experience that you found challenging.  Reflect upon what you did, the cost, what you learned and what you’d do differently moving ahead.

    6 – Courage

    Challenging yourself to do things differently can be scary but anxiety relief can actually come out of doing that scary and different thing!  Dopamine in the brain is disrupted signaling, “Uh-oh” but then is restored after mastery of the situation is achieved.  “I did it!”  According to Linda Graham, this is “reconditioning at it’s finest” and a mechanism for brain change.

    The greatest oak was once a little nut that held its ground.

    – Author unknown

    There are other practices to accelerate resilience and brain change including presence (mindfulness) to prime receptivity of the brain and perseverance to create and install change.  Linda’s book is packed with tools and exercises to add to your toolbox.

    3

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    Lisa Brookes Kift, MFT

    Source link

  • Resilience and the 6 C’s of Coping | LoveAndLifeToolBox

    Resilience and the 6 C’s of Coping | LoveAndLifeToolBox

    [ad_1]

    Resilience is the ability to recover from adversity which can include illness, loss, financial instability, natural disasters and any other highly stressful events.  With all we have been through globally in the last several years, it’s evident people have learned how to cope with a lot of challenges.  Sadly, the undulating waves of collective stress, worry and grief continue, while bearing witness to an unprovoked war and unfolding human tragedy in Ukraine.

    There is a palpable sense of feeling frayed again and time for a reminder about how to pool your inner resources to weather these storms.  The book, Bouncing Back:  Rewire Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being, by Linda Graham, MFT, is an excellent resource to do just that.  Here are some important nuggets you can practice now to help you move forward in the best way possible.

    Resilience and the 6 C’s of Coping

    1 – Calm

    Learn to regulate your flight, fight, freeze response to experience inner peace vs numbness or collapse.

    Try This:  Hand on the Heart 

    Place your hand on your heart, close your eyes and breathe gently.  Call to mind a moment with someone who loves you unconditionally.  Feel the moment with them, notice their kind expression towards you.  If no one comes to mind you may use a religious figure or pet.  Experience the feelings associated with being in this safe and held space.

    Oxytocin, the hormone of safety, calm and connect, is the brain’s antidote to the stress hormone, cortisol. Exposure, even imagined, to the people we feel secure with can release oxytocin.  Physical touch can amplify that sensation.

    2 – Compassion

    Compassion helps to overcome your negativity bias to be more optimistic and flexible.  Self-compassion is awareness and acceptance of what’s going on internally.  Kristen Neff, PhD speaks of “putting your own oxygen mask on first” which helps you to notice, recognize and have compassion for your moment of suffering.

    Try this:  Seeing Yourself as Others See You

    Imagine sitting across from someone who truly loves you, then switch places and imagine yourself as they see you and why they love you.  Take in the good of what they see.  Then imagine  yourself as you again, taking in their love.

    3 – Clarity

    Understanding that thoughts are simply thoughts is the first step towards improved clarity in challenging situations.  Often times we can slip into a cascade of thoughts leading to emotions that don’t serve well, particularly if the original thought is not an accurate assessment of the situation.  Belief systems can be at the root of the original thought so familiarity with your underlying beliefs serves to improve clarity.

    Every moment brings a choice, and every choice has an impact. 

    – Julia Butterfly Hill

    4 – Connections to Resources

    The more you can tap into the resources around you, the more support and grounding you’ll be able to call upon in moments of distress.  People, practices and places can all serve as external resources for resilience.  Be aware of who is in your life that can be a support.  Get familiar with practices such as daily gratitude journaling and taking in the good of particular moments to get resourced.  Nature has been shown to improve brain functioning.  Find a sacred spot or refuge outdoors that you can go to.

    5 – Competence

    Feeling empowered and a felt sense of, “I can!” is an important skill for resilience.  Identify the story you carry about your competence.  Does it serve you?  Is it

    accurate?

    Try this:  Create a Coherent Narrative

    Take a recent incident experience that you found challenging.  Reflect upon what you did, the cost, what you learned and what you’d do differently moving ahead.

    6 – Courage

    Challenging yourself to do things differently can be scary but anxiety relief can actually come out of doing that scary and different thing!  Dopamine in the brain is disrupted signaling, “Uh-oh” but then is restored after mastery of the situation is achieved.  “I did it!”  According to Linda Graham, this is “reconditioning at it’s finest” and a mechanism for brain change.

    The greatest oak was once a little nut that held its ground.

    – Author unknown

    There are other practices to accelerate resilience and brain change including presence (mindfulness) to prime receptivity of the brain and perseverance to create and install change.  Linda’s book is packed with tools and exercises to add to your toolbox.

    3

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    Lisa Brookes Kift, MFT

    Source link