How to train your brain to empathise and connect with people

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Neuroscience is showing that we can train our brains to become more empathetic naturally due to the brain's 'neuroplasticity' (meaning that it can change). Mental exercises such as 'compassion meditation' are ways in which we can voluntarily generate feelings of empathy and compassion as well as increase our attention spans and equanimity.

I have been practicing compassion meditation for 3 1/2 weeks, and I can report very positive effects including less anxiety, less stress, more feelings of social connectedness and a desire to help people.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a4abAnPYKg&list=FL2LRgxZVAJ3aJuazBBslNRQ&index=6[/youtube]

I am slightly familiar with Rick Hanson's work, and have heard a couple of interview/lectures by him. I just really want to say thank you for sharing the video. I will begin watching daily for the next few weeks and see how it effects me.

Bliss

I have pleanty of feelings of compassion and empathy, its just the expressing of them that is the hard part.

yes, me too. I feel a lot of concern for the wellbeing of people around me and i can express this verbally but not so much with my body language.

Balletnerd, I can really empathize with you comment about body language. My current gentleman friend will ask why I am angry, or upset at times when I am anything but. He tells me that is what my body language is projecting even if that is not the way I feel. I have no idea of what I am doing or how to change it so I am not indicating to NTs that I am in a negative space when I am not.

Sweetleaf, I have to admit that I often feel more compassion for characters I am reading about in books than I do for many of the people around me. Family, yes there is compassion. Neighbors I don't really know, not so much. Some of this may be from how I grew up. I was constantly criticized for not being able to fit in, when I had no idea HOW to fit in. When I had children of my own, the fitting in, them with me and me with them, was not a problem. Of course, my younger son being diagnosed as AS, and my own research into AS showing that his brother, sister and I may all also have AS may have something to do with that.

Inner Peace, having written my original post before actually watching the video, I can see my error in saying I want to watch the video every day as opposed to saying I want to meditate every day. I managed to locate Budda's Brain, the book mentioned in the video, as I was unpacking boxes yesterday, so I know I should start reading that again. Still I also know I need to watch the video at least a couple more times to get the practice of compassionate meditation fixed in my mind so I will be able to follow it.

Bliss

Yes, indeed. My usual expression seems to be registered as disinterest so I would always get picked on at school by teachers and also now at work by managers who complain I dont listen in meetings - not true - if they asked me about the content I would be able to confirm what I heard so therefore it must just be based on my expressions. This also makes it hard for me to flirt with someone I am interested in - I just tend to stare without always realising it. I'm not really that scary.