Responding to violence with compassion does not often come naturally. When we hear news of violence, it puts us in contact with our own vulnerability to suffering and loss. We tend to react with either fear or anger.
If we look more deeply, we can see that reacting with anger is our own attempt to armor our heart against the fear and pain. How can we begin to heal from the harm that violence has caused? By holding compassion for our own pain, vulnerability, and anger, acting strongly in response to injustice, holding compassion for others who have experienced deep loss, and then holding compassion toward all people who in moments of their own pain and suffering have lashed out to cause suffering toward themselves or others.
Breathe in compassion. Breathe out pain.
When we grow our sense of compassion, we develop a greater sense of resilience for coping with difficult times. The more we practice, the more that responding to violence with compassion comes more easily.
Compassion allows us to bear witness to…suffering, whether it is in ourselves or others, without fear; it allows us to name injustice without hesitation, and to act strongly, with all the skill at our disposal. To develop this mind state of compassion…is to learn to live, as the Buddha put it, with sympathy for all living beings, without exception. –Sharon Salzberg
Jen Johnson is a mindfulness coach and therapist teaching mindfulness for healing, resilience, and creativity. Learn more about working with Jen.