Week three

This week has seen the focus turn on tragedy in the media with the horrific earthquake in Christchurch N.Z.

It is easy to become detached as we follow the unfolding events since the immediate impact made it's presence felt. In this posting I'd like to focus on the creation of empathy and making real connections with people, being present, being aware of their humanity and probably the most important, their feelings.

There is s a school of thought that reflects the probability of a rise in human consciousness, which it the opposite to the detachment that is a by product of the age of computerised lifestyle.

To be really effective in communicating with people the key elements are connecting and listening, 

Good communication takes time and practice and is vital to understanding the feelings of others.  Particularly those who are or have experienced trauma or lived through catastrophe.

Without having experienced something similar it is often hard to make the connection and those who have lived through events seldom speak of it for this reason. A good case in point are those who have been in combat.

I'd like to close by shining the spotlight on those who are affected by people who have experienced trauma.

Author Kathleen O'Dwyer in her soon to be released book, "Stressed", speaks from a wealth of experience on the lead up to and the aftermath of trauma.Subtitled "One Woman's Story" the book highlights the signs of our capacity to cope and follows with some very sound advice on how to live beyond the experience.

In a recent conversation with Kathleen we identified movies that have remarkably captured the impact, not only on the lives of those experiencing stress, but also the impact on family and colleagues. 

One of the best portrayals was Apollo 13. There will be books or movies that will raise the point with you.

So in closing learning, to relate to people at a really connected level is vital to understanding and thereby creating better families, communities, nations and a better world.