The Power of the Pause - A Spotlight on Misha Safran

My weekly Purposeful Empathy newsletter is dedicated to amplifying the voices of people from around the globe who believe the world needs more empathy - and are doing something about it. In October, I’m shining a spotlight on experts who have explored the role of empathy in workplaces and educational settings, as well as the transformative power of empathic listening in fostering meaningful connections.

If you’ve ever given meditation a shot, you know how tough it is to quiet your mind. We think relentlessly and it takes real effort to be present in the moment. 

Of course, mindfulness practices are meant to help us feel equanimity, but what if I told you that slowing down can also foster a more loving vibrational energy? Misha Safran calls this “the power of the pause.”

Misha is a coach and relationship strategist whose work is devoted to promoting empathy and emotional intelligence in families, workplaces, and schools. She is also the founder and CEO of the Center for Empathy and Emotional Intelligence (CEEQ). 

Centered on the foundations of compassionate communication, principles for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, the CEEQ “provides leadership and development training to foster open dialogue between team members, regardless of hierarchy, a sense of belonging and importance among each individual, and a deeper understanding of how empathy and emotional intelligence play a role in creating positive and joyful spaces to live and work.”

Misha is also the author of How to Center Empathy & Emotional Well-Being for Yourself and Your Students, a book that invites teachers to recharge their batteries and practice self-compassion. 

This is especially important in light of these statistics:

• According to the National Education Association, 90% of teachers claim burnout is a “serious” problem, and 67% claim it's “very serious.”
• According to U.S. Labor Statistics, more than 270,000 teachers quit their jobs each year.

In a recent conversation on my podcast, she described how we can all slow down before reacting by remembering a process she calls CAPE:

Compassionate communication: Take a moment to listen deeply and respond with kindness.

Assume positive intent: Approach conversations with the mindset that others are acting or speaking with good intentions.

Principles of inclusion and belonging: Create an environment in which everyone feels valued and included.

Empathy before accusation: Seek to understand before making assumptions about anyone’s actions.

Misha also describes how couples can connect emotionally in under one minute by hugging for 20 seconds. This increases the flow of endorphins and enhances emotional connection.

Why not give that a try? Find a willing participant right now and give them a nice, long hug!

Want to learn more about the important role empathy plays within relationships? Order my debut book, Purposeful Empathy: Tapping Our Hidden Superpower for Personal, Organizational, and Social Change.

Watch my Purposeful Empathy interview with Misha Safran on YouTube here or listen to it as a podcast on your favourite platform (Spotify or Apple Podcasts).