From Reflection to Transformation: Empathy Circles and Their Role in Cultivating Change
Speaker:  Maša Blaznik (15 min)

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Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/-F_UWtUHPeMwL8Ew2HpkI8yi5P4?view=summary

Maša Blaznik, a psychologist and founder of the Empathy Based Society Institute, discussed her experiences with empathy circles. Initially practiced with friends for over a year and a half, these circles evolved from support to inner work, focusing on self-reflection through topics like acceptance and authenticity. The integration stage was extended to reflect on realizations. Blaznik emphasized the institute's mission to foster empathy through education and training, aiming to shift societal norms from violence to empathy. She proposed using empathy circles to reconnect with nature and animals, promoting mutual recognition and sustainable living.

Action Items

• [ ] Develop programs and initiatives to promote the purposeful development of empathy towards self, others, animals, nature, and the planet.

• [ ] Implement systemic empathy through policy engagement, advice, advocacy, and think tank initiatives.

• [ ] Explore the potential of empathy circles to reawaken the connection with animals, nature, and the planet.

Outline

Experiences with Empathy Circles: Personal and Professional Insights

• Cara Wilson introduces Maša Blaznik, highlighting her role as a psychologist, independent researcher, and founder of the Empathy Based Society Institute.

• Maša Blaznik begins by addressing technical issues and outlines her talk, dividing it into two parts: personal experiences with empathy circles and integrating empathy circles into the Empathy Based Society Institute's programs.

• Maša shares her initial curiosity about empathy circles and how practicing them in her native language enhanced her experience.

• She describes inviting old friends to practice empathy circles, which evolved from a meaningful connection to inner work, focusing on self-reflection and self-connection.

Evolution of Empathy Circles: Topics and Integration Stage

• Maša explains how she prepared topics for empathy circles, which encouraged self-reflection and self-connection, such as acceptance, space, courage, shadow, expectations, my body, balance, connection, grace, curiosity, and authenticity.

• The integration stage of empathy circles became a space for participants to reflect on their realizations and integrate their experiences fully.

• Examples of realizations shared during the integration stage include recognizing personal triggers and the challenges of being a listener.

• Maša highlights the benefits of empathy circles, including deeper self-connection, self-regulation, setting healthy boundaries, and authenticity.

Introduction to the Empathy Based Society Institute

• Maša introduces the Empathy Based Society Institute, a non-profit organization founded last year with a mission to drive a cultural shift through empathy education and training.

• She discusses the normalization of violence towards people, animals, nature, and the planet, and how economic systems are built on this basis.

• Maša emphasizes the importance of developing empathy, even in adulthood, and the neuroscientific finding that empathy and violence share a part of the same neural circuit in our brains.

• The institute's mission includes raising awareness about empathy, violence, connection, and promoting programs for the purposeful development of empathy towards self, others, animals, nature, and the planet.

Empathy Circles with Nature and Animals

• Maša explains how empathy circles can help reconnect people with animals and nature, shifting the relationship from control to coexistence.

• She describes a practical example of empathy circles with nature, where participants connect with a natural element, sit quietly, and observe without expectations.

• The practice involves speaking in first person as the chosen natural element during the empathy circle, shifting from a human-centered mindset to mutual recognition of beingness and connection.

• Over time, this practice helps recognize the intrinsic value of life and nurtures more connected, sustainable, and non-violent ways of living.

Applications and Future Directions of Empathy Circles

• Maša discusses the potential of empathy circles with animals, including pets and wild animals, and how they can connect people with the experience of animals.

• She emphasizes that empathy is not limited to human relationships and can be a way of connecting with the entire web of life.

• The purpose of empathy circles with nature is to remind people that empathy can be a way of living and being with the world.

• Maša concludes by highlighting the programs and directions being explored and developed by the Empathy Based Society Institute to cultivate empathic connections with more than the human world.