Dear Community,

I have often heard people reference fear as the opposite of love (rather than hate). Along these lines, these two resources help explore how defensiveness may emerge in the place of empathy when interpersonal dynamics trigger, through actions or communication patterns, a defensive rather than understanding response from the other:

1) Understanding the Defensive System by Gregg Henriques: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/201509/understanding-the-defensive-system

2) Cultivating Collaboration: Don’t Be So Defensive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjSTNv4gyMM

Defensiveness and fear are closely wedded when thinking about the causes of a reactive response. However, CALM-MO and other practices that create space for pause, breath, embodied sensing, grounding, down-regulation, and perspective taking, can all help shift someone (ourselves) from a reactive and defensive stance to one of empathy, compassion, and broadened perspective.

Curious to hear people’s thoughts on how these concepts might be related to broader cultural and social dynamics, especially in response to these unique times.

thanks,
K

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