Compassion, Empathy and Burnout
BJ Miller, and Michael Kearney co-host a discussion on caring for others and caring for yourself. Empathy and compassion are important pieces of the puzzle, but many times the empathy and compassion isn't extended to our own self.
We discuss:
0:00 Introductions
3:07 Defining compassion and empathy - sometimes used interchangeably, but importantly distinct
5:41 There are modes within the concept of “burnout” - Compassion Fatigue, Moral Distress Syndrome, and Burnout. They are life-stress syndromes
10:15 Everything leads to burnout - it is a phenomenon in it’s own right. Fighting with insurance companies, entanglement and mismatch between what matters to us and the bureaucracy inherent in our society
16:05 Check yourself and reflect: are you feeling any of the signs of burnout?
20:44 The concept of Self Care 1.0 - so much of the caregiving tradition tips into pathological altruism, it is a selfless act, so you have to add back in the self
22:16 In a stressful situation, realizing we need to protect ourselves and have sources of support - might just be to take a break,
24:07 How do we get beyond basic boundaries? To thrive in the midst of forces that might take us down.
25:53 Self Care 2.0: a wider and deeper circle of recognizing what we really need to come through difficult times that are ongoing
26:22 Stories of resilience from nature
40:10 How can we remember our deeper identity? We are inter-beings, interdependent
42:38 “Honoring our pain” from Joanna Macy, the more we can allow ourselves to feel what we’re feeling, that pain is actually a symptom of our connectedness and caring
45:04 Can compassion lead to burnout? How does compassion compare to empathy as relates to burnout?
47:30 More on “Nests in the Stream” by Michael Kearney
52:00 Notes on psychedelics as relates to compassion and empathy
57:52 Attendee observation on how they find deep resilience in their own life living with illness
Learn more about Michael's work: https://www.michaelkearneymd.com/