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Join the Men and Boys Compassion Initiative (MBCI) as we co-create an international movement to help men and boys cultivate their compassionate selves. This also requires the cultivation of courage and wisdom to heal the male crisis of disconnection.
A special 4-hour online conference from the Men and Boys Compassion Initiative. Wed. June 12, 2024
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Clearly, there’s a clarion call for greater compassion and self-compassion in the world; without compassion-based values and behaviors, we will fail in addressing the multiple obstacles we face ahead. While this may sound hyperbolic or overly dramatic, the future of our planet may well depend on the development of greater compassion and self-compassion in the lives of boys and men. If we don’t address male suffering in its many forms—health, relationships, finances, and general self-esteem to name some—we will be casting votes for callous or cruel male behaviors in turn.
We all share the human experience of suffering as a part of life. We all lose or face loss at times. From mates to friendships to work to finances, the pain of loss can span small disappointments to cataclysmic experiences.
The fact is that we haven’t done a good job, as a culture, in dealing effectively with much male suffering. This suffering is often camouflaged within the shadows of silence (emotional isolation and loneliness) and/or the well-worn path of addiction (alcohol, drugs, porn, games, and/or gambling). Some statistics may reveal more than our eyes can see:
- Males commit suicide four times as often as women
- Males die on average over 5 years earlier
- Males are much more likely to be the victims (and perpetrators) of violence
- Males have higher rates of alcoholism and drug addiction
- Males are more socially isolated
We need to pay better attention and increase our attunement to boys and men, opening our eyes to the particular ways they exhibit pain. We need to meet male suffering with more kindness, care, curiosity and, yes, compassion.
Within a larger frame, we would all do better and feel better if we realized that compassion is a superpower. Compassion gives us the strength, wisdom, and courage to attend to suffering, build bridges, and diffuse conflict. It increases our own and other people’s happiness, fosters connection, and provides meaning. Compassion helps us face inevitable unwanted disruptions and be resilient in overcoming difficulties. It helps us be mindful and skillful in handling life’s challenges.
Imagine if that power could be harnessed to foster understanding and connection. Imagine if we could inspire individuals, organizations, and governments to act from a place of compassion, to attend to suffering, and build communities of care and belonging. Imagine if we encourage greater compassion in the world. These visions and desires align the Men and Boys Compassion Initiative (MBCI) with the Global Compassion Coalition (https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/) who house our pages: https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/topics/men-and-boys/.
Our mission at MBCI is to highlight and address the key roles that compassion and self-compassion play or could play in the lives of boys and men. We believe that a compassionate approach to and from males serves to benefit everyone, because a bottom-line truth is that hurt males hurt others. Compassion is a suave to the wounds of males, thereby increasing kindness from them (Of course, this is true for all beings).
At MBCI, we focus explicitly on three broad dimensions of males and compassion:
- Supporting their expression of compassion towards others
- Encouraging greater compassion from others towards them
- Developing greater compassion for themselves
To that end, MBCI will be convening a free online conference on June 12th to address specific challenges and opportunities regarding boys and men: https://www.globalcompassioncoalition.org/events/the-transformational-power-of-male-compassion/ Our four panels of world leading experts will focus on different challenges that boys and men face as well as the opportunities for them to act more mindfully, heartfully, and healthfully:
- Exploring male psychology and development from infancy to early adulthood
- Understanding the dynamics of boys in school
- Supporting the development of positive male friendships and communities
- Encouraging more compassion towards fathers and self-compassion from fathers
We, at MBCI, welcome your attendance at our June 12th online conference. Aside from what you may learn, you will also learn about future opportunities to engage with MBCI to help co-create a more compassionate, equitable world. We don’t take those words lightly.
Please visit our webpages, including the conference registration link, to learn more.
A special 4-hour online conference from the Men and Boys Compassion Initiative. Wed. June 12, 2024
Click here for more information
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Photo: iStock