Mindfulness and Empathy: Using The News

As we watch the news about the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, it is easy to become much more caught up in the horror and anguish part of the disaster instead of the opportunity to deepen our own ability to feel empathy and act purposefully.

Ironically, just prior to the hurricane hitting New Orleans, I was interviewed by two major magazines about the topic of empathy and how we can use the news as a trigger for mindfulness beyond the obvious information-sharing about where to send a check.

We can actually make use of whatever news we hear to focus on our own ability to connect to the pain of others and--key point here--redirect our emotion and energy so that we emerge as more compassionate without getting dragged down into hopelessness.

Every non-profit organization in the world is the result of empathy and directed compassion. Whether we're saving trees, feeding children, or preserving history, we are tapping into our ability to FEEL a connection and moving forward by paying attention to our heightened sense of urgency in order to plan appropriate action.

We listen. We watch. We feel. We act.

Unfortunately, many of us tend to get stuck in one of the first three states, and instead of utilizing our emotion and energy, we find that it causes us great stress and heartache without seeming to help us--or anyone else.

By paying attention to the news and using it as a mindfulness trigger,we can see exactly what part of the process tends to hold us most stubbornly.

Can't tear yourself away from the news? Feel compelled to listen to the same reports over and over? Step back and watch YOURSELF. Are you processing information--or looking for some way to release your own despair? Information alone rarely moves us forward. We must take the next step and allow ourselves to FEEL and then to ACT.

Watch your own emotions. What are you feeling? Once the info has beenprocessed and the initial wave of horror and compassion has passed, we naturally turn to fear. What will happen next? Will this affect us and our loved ones? What can we do to prepare or prevent this from happening?

In the acts-of-God category, it's tough to move out of fear. We can work the numbers in our heads, but the more we watch those reports, the more we think, "These people never saw it coming--it could have been a disaster in my own town."

Listen to the "what ifs" and "could have beens" going through your head, and then ask yourself: What can I DO?

Keep in mind that action is highly personal. Your response might be to pray or meditate or send love to all of those affected. You might go out and buy some bottled water to store in your basement for your family--just in case. You may use the news as a topic of conversation in order to connect with those you wouldn't normally talk to. You could use it as a reminder to draw your loved ones together more frequently and meaningfully. You might write a check, organize a fundraiser, or start a nonprofit yourself.

What matters is that you reach some point of engagement in the world. Use the news as a way to connect with others and deepen that innate sense of compassion you share with humans around the world.

There will be other Katrinas, unfortunately. The good news is that you can learn how to skillfully transform sadness and helplessness in order to become a more mindful, engaged and excellent human.

Stay tuned, stay mindful, and stay engaged.