Empathy Training (Black belt requirement) – Some reflections
The past week I have been going back through my personal training journal whereas I have kept tabs on my progress against my black belt requirements, jotted down some of my thoughts and observations, and kept notes of my various injuries I’ve had to work through over the past year.
One experience I had was a 5-day period I got to spend at our cabin up in the central sierra. This was a planned solo trip with the intent of having a full non-speaking day, some extended meditation and very focused kata practice.
Not speaking to others was easy in this setting as I was alone, and very few people were up at the lake and their cabins as summer had ended and kids were back in school. I thought about how blessed I am, my family is, to have such a cool cabin and the means to take some time off and enjoy. To have the full use of my body, my mind, and to be able to actively pursue my interests when I know so many others may have various forms of challenges, or simply not be in the position I find myself in for a myriad of reasons. Yet, I also know that even those with some specific set of challenges such as a physical deficit are often the most resilient and content in their own right; they have a perspective and appreciation for things many others often take for granted.
I think empathy and compassion are also important relative to how we treat ourselves. I can be extremely hard on myself, self-critical and impatient which in turn leads to frustration and struggle. I have to remind myself that when I am compassionate with myself and practice this, only then am I able to be truly compassionate and empathetic toward others.