Welcome to the 2020s, The Decade of Compassion! Three key attributes of this moment point to this being the right time, the critical time for this decade to become The Decade of Compassion.

Compassion is contagious. We have a choice as to what impact we would like to create in the world as a result of our actions. We can offset the violence and anger in the world by acting compassionately towards others.

This exercise is designed to help us remember that we are connected to everyone and everything. When we do that, it becomes easier to relate, respect, and trust others. Recognizing our shared human experience with others leads us to deeper places of cooperation, collaboration, and connection. It helps us break through the isolation and loneliness that are rampant in today’s fast-paced society.

Compassion for the greater good is the outer circle of the Center for Compassionate Leadership’s model. Without an anchoring in our interconnectedness with everyone and everything, self-compassion and compassion for others can quickly devolve into narcissism or manipulation.

How kind is that voice in your head, toward YOU? When you make a mistake, or are struggling in a situation, or something really tough is happening in your life, how do you speak to yourself? Whether you are new to compassion practices or an experienced practitioner, this is a short, simple, effective exercise that will offer you new awareness and a path towards self-kindness.

The middle circle of the Center for Compassionate Leadership’s Model is where the rubber meets the road. While the inner circle – self-compassion – and the outer circle – compassion for the greater good – both provide a foundation for acting compassionately in the world, compassion for others is where we interact and live in the world.

At the heart of our Compassionate Leadership model is the innermost circle representing self-compassion. Compassionate Leadership as developed in our model is built from the inside out. It is critical to stand in a position of authentic grounding in our truest self. Before we can effectively lead others, we must be an effective leader of our own life.

Did you ever wish you had a reset button to change your mood or create an open mindset? Discover this simple, effective tool that anyone can use, whether you are new to compassion practices or an experienced practitioner. This personal reset practice is patterned after a practice doctors and nurses rely on during the very brief time available moving from patient to patient.

“How do we save ourselves, and how do we save the world?” That question (one we frequently hear at the Center for Compassionate Leadership) was at the core of the Wisdom 2.0 Mindfulness in America conference. Here’s just a taste of the insights we gained from the likes of Soren Gordhamer, Richard Davidson, Sharon Salzberg, Dan Siegel, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Rhonda V. Magee, and David Simas.

In her keynote at the 2019 Compassion in Action Healthcare Conference, Helen Riess, MD, discusses the origins of the compassion gap, why it matters, and the way forward for those wanting to strengthen the state of compassionate care in American medicine.