[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_color=”#efefef” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_row disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”|auto||101px||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”mailto:?subject=Of%20interest&body=I%20think%20you’d%20find%20this%20newsletter%20by%20Rabbi%20Brian%20a%20good%20read.%20%20%20https://oldrotb.wpengine.com/2021/05/14/compass-u-ionate/” button_text=”SHARE VIA EMAIL” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ text_font=”Georgia||||||||” text_text_color=”#474747″ text_font_size=”27px” text_line_height=”1.1em” header_font=”Open Sans|800||on|||||” header_text_color=”#6b6b6b” header_font_size=”46px” header_letter_spacing=”10px” header_line_height=”1.1em” header_2_font=”Open Sans|800|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#8f8f8f” header_2_font_size=”45px” header_2_line_height=”2.9em” header_3_font=”|700||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#00a2aa” header_3_font_size=”31px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px||0px|0px|false|false”]

For the sake of learning, I’d like to ask you to consider the circumstances since the start of 2020 as a grand psychological experiment.

Of course, it has not been.

But considering how we might react if this were a lab experiment can help us find some great compassion for the difficulties we are experiencing now.

So, let’s imagine that it is a story and you work with the researchers.

Imagine that you begin your grand experiment by introducing a great amount of uncertainty: “There is a deadly virus that we don’t know much about, except that it is highly contagious and we don’t have the ability to stop it.”

Have leaders of government and science offer contradictory reports

Do not allow research subjects to touch their friends or see half of each other’s faces except on video

Choreograph the murders of minority groups by those sworn to protect them

And wait.
See what happens. Do they start to get nervous tics? Do they start more fights? Will they still go out of their way to be nice to each other?
What trends do we see in terms of people accessing nature?

Orchestrate what seems to be the near collapse of government
And watch.

Which might you expect the research subjects to experience?

Flashbacks to other traumas?
Generally Distrust / Fear
Lots of laughter?
Community withdrawal?
Confusion / Despair / Fatigue?
Anxiety? Substance abuse?
Violence?
Nonetheless, deep spiritual self care?

And what do you imagine the research subjects might experience as the restrictions are suddenly lifted?

(That’s how you are today.)

In my work as a rabbi, I have found many good people have an easier time being compassionate to others who are in their same circumstance.

That’s why I asked you to imagine this as a grand psychological experience. Because you know you would be compassionate to THAT OTHER person.

Remember to be kind to yourself.
Continue self-compassion.

This has been a rough year and a half.
Indeed.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”mailto:?subject=Of%20interest&body=I%20think%20you’d%20find%20this%20newsletter%20by%20Rabbi%20Brian%20a%20good%20read.%20%20%20https://oldrotb.wpengine.com/2021/05/14/compass-u-ionate/” button_text=”SHARE VIA EMAIL” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”Button” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″][et_pb_image src=”https://rotb.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1b235169dbeb4bfe98882eecf2142f02-1-1.jpeg” align=”right” _builder_version=”3.29.3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.29.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.3″]Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer resides in Portland, Oregon. He is the founder and head of Religion-Outside-The-Box oldrotb.wpengine.com, an internet-based, global group of 3.3K+ digital-age seekers. ROTB produces excellent spiritual content.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.25.3″ background_color=”#195f79″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”PT Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”Open Sans|800||on|||||” header_text_align=”left” header_font_size=”50px” custom_margin=”|||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”40px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” inline_fonts=”Noto Sans”]

The 77% Weekly

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Try for free. Always free. Directly to your in-box.” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%155%%” icon_color=”#ffffff” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”13px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.8em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”20px|||” animation=”off”][/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”intelligent wisdom. real + funny. about life” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%102%%” icon_color=”#ffffff” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”3.23.3″ header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”13px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.8em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”20px|||” animation=”off”][/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Enjoyed by 1,000’s of people. 40/52 weeks a year.” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%141%%” icon_color=”#ffffff” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”3.25.3″ header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”13px” header_letter_spacing=”2px” header_line_height=”1.8em” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”20px|||” animation=”off”][/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”https://oldrotb.wpengine.com/archives” button_text=”Archives” _builder_version=”3.29.3″][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”1″ include_categories=”1″ show_more=”on” show_categories=”off” offset_number=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][/et_pb_blog][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.27.4″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.27.4″][et_pb_signup provider=”aweber” aweber_list=”Divi Builder Aweber|5423499″ layout=”right_left” success_action=”redirect” success_redirect_url=”https://oldrotb.wpengine.com/success/” title=”Wisdom in your in-box” button_text=”40/52 Mondays a year. Free.” description=”
Free, curiosity-satisfying, soul-nuturing, digital-age, applicable messages from Rabbi Brian
” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ header_font=”Open Sans|800|||||||” body_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” form_field_font=”Open Sans|300|||||||” form_field_text_align=”left”][/et_pb_signup][et_pb_signup provider=”aweber” aweber_list=”Divi Builder Aweber|3986697″ success_action=”redirect” success_redirect_url=”https://oldrotb.wpengine.com/success/” title=”Wisdom. Free!” button_text=”Click” description=”
Please enter your information here.
” disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.4.1″ disabled=”on”][/et_pb_signup][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]