Race, Mindfulness & Wise Action: A Focused Awareness & Emotionally Intelligent Approach to the Practice of Law, Attorney Presence & Well-Being

A mindful series for the Twin Cities Diversity In Practice Community

Mindfulness “Mindfulness is paying attention to what’s happening in the present moment, in the mind, body and external environment, with an Emotional Context Matters - attitude of kindness and curiosity.” Intelligence: Elevating awareness - Mindful Nation UK Report

Emotional Intelligence Three levels of awareness: consists of 4 key skills Unconscious Bias (Dr. Daniel Goleman): • Awareness of Self • Awareness of Others ... is social stereotypes about certain 1. Self-Awareness • Awareness of Surroundings 2. Self-Management groups of people that individuals form 3. Social Awareness outside their own conscious awareness. 4. Relationship Management Everyone holds unconscious beliefs about various social and identity groups, and these biases stem from one’s tendency to organize social worlds by categorizing. Decision-Making Empathy & - University of Califoria, San Francisco & Behavior: Compassion - Emotions are complex. They Disrupting Bias: Body Map show show up as Understand where physiological sensations in The ability to experience and emotions show up in the body in connection with understand what others feel your body and how complex network of activity while maintaining a clear they feel (e.g, in the brain. Increasing discernment about your own tingling, tightness, emotional awareness can and the other person’s openness, heat, help improve decision- feelings and perspectives. neutral, etc.). making and behavior. (Dr. Checking in with the Nummenmaa , Dr. Bechara Compassion is empathy in body periodically and Dr. Lisa Feldman action, adding to the helps enhance self- Barrett.) definition of empathy the awareness, decision- question, "what will truly making and behavior © 2020 Lucenscia LLC. All Rights Reserved. serve?" in the moment. Page 2 of 2 The Predicting Brain The brain non-consciously predicts what is most likely to happen and sets in motion Intersectionality perceptions, emotions, … a complex, co-existence of factors behaviors and interpersonal that describes how overlapping or responses best adapted to intersecting social identities, relate to what is expected— before societal and institutional systems and events occur. structures. The brain uses past learning as the guide for what to expect in the future. Because of prediction, present - Kimberlé Crenshaw experience and responses are shaped by the past. - Regina Pally Psychological Safety "The shared belief among team members that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking." (Dr. Amy Microaggressions Edmondson) Mindfulness builds Emotional Coined by Dr. Chester Pierce, Harvard Intelligence (EI), which includes empathy & Medical School Psychiatrist in the 1970s. compassion. Together, mindfulness and EI create a (Later popularized by the research of strong foundation for psychological safety and Columbia University Professor Derald mitigate impact of bias and predicting nature of Wing Sue.) brain. Microaggressions are the subtle, negative behavior – whether verbal or Mindfulness Meditations non-verbal, conscious or unconscious – toward a member of a marginalized G.R.A.C.E. PRACTICE group.

Gathering Attention Three types: micro-assaults, micro-insults, Recalling Intention and micro-invalidations. Attuning to Self/Other Considering what will serve - Derald Wing Sue Ethical Enactment; Ending

SEEING SIMILARITIES / OFFERING KINDNESS PRACTICE Seeing others like you: Noticing what is in common Belonging wihtout minimizing the differences. Remember that "The opposite of othering is not saming. the road to oneness is paved with the equal It’s belonging. Belonging or being fully embrace of sameness and difference. human means more than having access. Belonging entails being respected at a Wishing kindness to others silently to yourself (or out basic level that includes the right to both loud) prior to a meeting, before you enter a room or co-create and make demands upon any other moment. society."

- john a. powell Othering & Belonging Institute