COURSE # 001: Emotional Intelligence for a Compassionate World

Facilitated by Barbara A. Kerr, Ph.D.
Course Begins: April 4, 2016 but open for registration through April
Course Length: 7 weeks
Fee: $149 US

To Register: Link to Charter/CEI webpage and Click to enroll to: http://charterforcompassioninstitute.org/courses/9/enroll

Q: What does Emotional Intelligence have to do with Compassion?
Emotional Intelligence skills and competencies can become the fertile ground for a more compassionate world. The skills that contribute to the various components of Emotional Intelligence may be viewed as pre-requisites to the development of compassion--in individuals, in families, in the workplace, in communities, and in the interconnected societies of people throughout the world.

During this “anywhere, anytime, on-demand access” course, you will discover your own Emotional Intelligence strengths, and learn ways to add to your Emotional Intelligence competencies. These skills are essential to building empathy and compassion, qualities that are much needed in our current world climate. Together, we can make a difference and bring about a more compassionate world.

Q: What is the time commitment for this course?

When “Emotional Intelligence for a Compassionate World” is opened for learning, it will be what we call “open access.” We understand that you have many tasks and responsibilities, so the course has been designed for your convenience. You may start and stop as your own schedule dictates—anytime, anywhere. You can go through all seven lessons in a marathon of learning session (we don’t advise this), or you can sign-in to the course for ten minutes at a time for as long as it takes to complete the course.

Testimonial: Emotional Intelligence for a Compassionate World is a well thought out, well researched, and effectively paced and presented online course. The author, Barbara Kerr, Ph.D., offers the course participant an enjoyable, fun, and information packed journey of inner discovery: a truly useful and valuable learning experience to the heart of one of the most important topics of our day – Emotional Intelligence. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is truly interested in developing this crucial aspect of human character; wherever they happen to be on the EQ-i scale.   ~Brian Haley, MA Registered Clinical Counselor

Additional Information about the Course

Why do Emotions Matter?

EMOTIONS are a constant in the lives of us humans. Everyday. Everywhere. No matter who we are, where we live, or what we do, EMOTIONS color our moments, our days, our years, and our entire lives.

While there are people who suffer from brain diseases or have had an injury to the brain who may not experience emotions in the same way, most of us feel the ups and downs of our human emotions and do the best we can not only to deal with those emotions but also to navigate through the minefields of other people’s emotions every day of our lives.

By the time we have completed the years of childhood and adolescence, we are expected to have mastered this aspect of our lives, to demonstrate by our behaviors that we are the masters of our emotions. But is that true?

• Why then do we so often pretend that we are not feeling an emotion?
• Why do we attempt to hide our emotions from others?
• Why do we feel that we must “park our emotions at the door”?
• Why is it that we often have difficulty figuring out what it is we are feeling?
• Why are we sometimes frightened or surprised by feeling an emotion?
• Why do we so often have difficulty managing those strong emotions—jealousy, loneliness, anger for example?
• How do we remain calm and caring or supportive while others are experiencing these strong emotions?
• How is it possible for us to increase the emotions we would like to have more of such as compassion or kindness?
• And why is it that some people seem to be able to handle their emotions better than others?

These questions are all part of the topic of Emotional Intelligence.

Since Daniel Goleman’s first book on Emotional Intelligence was published in 1995, an ever multiplying number of studies, articles, and books have contributed to our understanding and even made this a “hot topic” in the business world. Companies and organizations in many fields have become aware of the need to identify leaders and employees who have this somewhat elusive quality that we refer to as Emotional Intelligence or EI. But EI is no longer only a trendy topic for training in the corporate world.

In the 21st century, we have grown more aware of the need to pay attention to emotional and social intelligence from childhood on—not only in our selves, but in our relationships with family and friends, raising our children, interacting in our workplaces, and contributing to our communities.

The good news is that we can reliably measure Emotional Intelligence, but more importantly, we can take steps to enhance it. We can improve our skills in managing our emotions, we can learn effective ways to cope with that difficult neighbor, that self-absorbed or insensitive colleague, that friend that seems to complain endlessly.

We can also learn how to build resilience so that we can cope with life’s slings and arrows despite the inevitable stresses and changes that affect all our lives. And thinking beyond our personal spheres--the teachable and learnable skills of Emotional Intelligence may prove to be the foundation for a more compassionate and peaceful world.

Anywhere, Anytime Access

As long as you have access to a computer and the Internet, you can tune into the course anywhere--at your desk in the workplace, in your favorite armchair at home, or perhaps sitting on a sunny deck somewhere with a beautiful view of the natural world. We think you'll have fun learning about Emotional Intelligence, and we look forward to your participation. Welcome! Register: http://charterforcompassioninstitute.org/courses/9/enroll 

Instructor Bio

Barbara Kerr.  Barbara's experiences as a college English instructor, a strategic planning and accreditation consultant, an executive coach, a writer, and workshop trainer for emotional intelligence have taught her a great deal about the great potential for empathy and compassion in our personal lives, our workplaces, our communities, and the world community.  She is pleased to contribute what she has learned as she works with the Charter for Compassion International to create a global compassionate community. Barbara is the CEO of Emotional Intelligence Insights and a member of the Society for Emotional Intelligence.  Read more.

COURSE # 002: Introduction to the Charter for Compassion International

Facilitated by Olivia McIvor
Course Begins: Coming Soon!
Course Length: 3 weeks, one hour per week
Fee: $29 US

This foundation program brings together people who may be interested in the concept of the Charter for Compassion International (CCI), its mission and vision and subsequent work. Join us for a holistic overview of the international global movement that brings the Charter for Compassion to life. During three facilitated 45-minute sessions you will be inspired, informed, and ignited to begin to take affirmative action helping create, build, and sustain a more compassionate world.

Week one: EXPLORE: Introduction to The Charter for Compassion
Explore how the work of the Charter is an international movement and how it has the possibilities of changing the world. Learn who we are, what we believe and what we can do together. Begin to explore how you can serve and explore questions such as why is the concept of compassion important, relevant, and necessary. Explore our comprehensive website, avenues of communication, and educational resources to begin connecting with others globally.

Week Two: CONNECT: Join our Network of Networks
With over 1500 Partner organizations, CCI is bringing to light a grassroots movement that is self-aware, interactive, and expanding daily. Through this vibrant Partner network and global communication platforms we share information, stories and experiences. Learn more about how to connect -- to inspire and sustain cultures of compassion locally and globally through diverse initiatives in a multitude of sectors.

Week Three: BEGIN: How to Put Compassion into Action in your Community
Gain an understanding of the five patterns of a successful movement to get you started. Discover how the Charter website has the potential to help with a compassion action plan, and how to map out a plan. Analyze how the community in which we live can start a grassroots city/community initiative and how to go about launching an initiative.

Instructor Bio

Olivia McIvor.  Known as a ‘people champion’ since early in her career, Olivia was told she would never be successful if she continued to “wear her heart on her sleeve”; today this proclamation has become her trademark. She has spent three decades as an Organization Development specialist supporting cultures to promote connection, compassion and community in business.  Olivia is a leadership facilitator, speaker and author of three best-selling books: The Business of Kindness; Four Generations-One Workplace; and Turning Compassion into Action.  Olivia lives in Vancouver, Canada and serves as a board director on The Kindness Foundation of Canada.  Her passion for training and facilitating dialogues for positive change comes into action as an education coordinator with CEI and in the development of the Introduction to the Charter on-line course and other Charter projects. Read more.

COURSE # 003: Turn Your Pain into Your Purpose
Become the Compassion You Seek

Obstacles are the way. No one wants to suffer, but life without pain has no value. The course “Turn Your Pain into Your Purpose” wishes to highlight your value, turning your own pain into a treasure. The course practices Awakening of Empathy, which is driven from the experience of pain. When we experience pain we become compassionate. But that is not enough. There are two approaches for compassion: Discover your pain, then be careful not to inflict it on others. In that case you become mindful about not hurting people. The other one is Discover your pain, then, do anything and everything to make sure that no one is going to suffer the same pain.

Which one do you resonate with? Compassion is the foundation of the golden rule, which communicates the concept of empathy. Each golden rule, however, has a different angle and focus. It was based on the personal experience of the person who claims it. The course is inspired by the spiritual journeys of the great Masters: Muhammad, Buddha, Jesus and Moses, based on Ronit’s book Walking in the footsteps of the Masters. Their spiritual journey of awakening of empathy led them to a journey of purpose as a direct result of their own pain.

This course demonstrates how the journeys of the Masters are relatable to our own, and if we embrace the obstacles and master the journey, we are coming into our own greatness as compassionate human beings. “Turn Your Pain into Your Purpose” is an “open access” class. We understand that you have many tasks and responsibilities, so the course has been designed for your convenience. You may start and stop as your own schedule dictates—anytime, anywhere. You can go through all seven lessons in a marathon of learning session (we don’t advise this), or you can sign-in to the course for ten minutes at a time for as long as it takes to complete the course.

Instructor Bio

Ronit Gabay is the author of the book Walking in the Footsteps of the Masters, and also a Soul Speaking Coach. Her passion for spiritual quest started back in Israel, when she graduated cum laude from the David Yellin College of Education in Jerusalem with a dual major in Bible Studies and History in 1993. In addition, she received an award for her proficiency in the Bible.

Her true passion for spirituality, however, was initiated through the process of questioning Judaism as a result of pain. This was caused by religious intolerance. She drifted apart from her own family as they became more religious; her pain continued with the loss of 3 relatives in terror attack as a result of ongoing conflict between two nations. Ronit's desire is to help people achieve personal healing through awakening of empathy and at the same time gain new understanding and compassion toward other religions.

COURSE # 004: Unlock Yourself

Facilitated by: Anna Huysse-Gaytandjiev, PhD
Course Begins: Starts May 9, 2016, open for registration through May
Course Length: 8 weeks (anytime, anywhere access)
Fee: $149 US

To Register: Link to Charter/CEI webpage and Click to enroll to: http://charterforcompassioninstitute.org/courses/40/enroll

While changes always have been a part of life, nowadays the pace, continuity, and expansion of changes is increasing. The working environment is becoming much more interdisciplinary, international, and competitive. Employees are expected to be able to do more of their normal work duties in less time, to fulfil additional tasks, often in an international setting and in a climate of high competition. The work-life balance is getting more and more demanding (combining careers, kids, care, social life, more and more in multicultural settings, etc.) while work and private life are blurring. As a result, workplaces require almost continuous adaptation by employees.

These enduring pressures may lead one to have a sense of being stuck:

Is there a way out of being stuck? Yes! A lot of your potential is unused. Instead of letting the pressure and worry kill our creativity, we can train our brain to unlock its true potential.

The training Unlock Yourself will help you to:

• create a safe and relaxed environment to reflect
• get insights about yourself, situation, and brain
• learn and implement practical tools which will increase your adaptability, personal agility and resilience
• handle the life long pressure and make the changes you want to make

Previous participants experience:

• improved relationship with oneself and others
• better dealing with non stop pressure and challenges
• increased life and job satisfaction
• feeling fit and in control

Instructor Bio

Anna Huysse-Gaytandjieva graduated cum laude from the Medical University in Varna, Bulgaria. She offers a special mix of evidence-based knowledge (researcher, PhD, and lecturer) and more than two decades of expertise in stimulating personal growth (psychological practice and training in different modalities). Anna is a top professional in the field of individual adaptation to change.

What Others Have to Say About “Unlock Yourself”

This program brings together a wealth of up-to-date scientific information, insights, practices, and reflections to help people navigate through various difficulties they may have at work. In addition it provides an excellent platform for self-development and self-help. ~Professor Paul Gilbert, PhD., the founder of Compassion Focused Therapy, Compassionate mind training and author of many books such as ‘The Compassionate Mind: A New Approach to Life's Challenges’

Based on Anna’s wide experience and unique approach, I am sure that participants will benefit a lot from her concept and that it will be a rewarding journey to a happier and more successful professional and personal life. ~Hamid Peseschkian, M.D., psychotherapist and psychiatrist, Wiesbaden, Germany

The 'Unlock Yourself' program integrates a treasure-trove of information from different areas of science to give individuals a wide variety of options for getting unstuck and build fulfilling professional lives. In particular, it is full of thought-provoking experiential exercises to help participants get to know themselves better and apply the information they are learning. ~Russell Kolts, PhD, a clinical psychologist and Professor at Eastern Washington University outside of Spokane

You can learn ways to cope with dissatisfaction as well as identify a source of such dissatisfaction (being or "feeling" trapped in a stressful or dissatisfying situation). While direct action (e.g., requesting job changes) or escape (e.g., seeking another job) can help address such dissatisfaction, psychological techniques are also available in help one cope and even undertake more proactive steps to change feelings of dissatisfaction. ~Peter Hom, a management professor at Arizona state university, USA, who studies job satisfaction, job embeddedness, and employee turnover

This is really a nice product and interesting approach to a relevant topic. I am sure it will have a positive impact. ~Prof. Dr. Alexander Sack, Professor of Brain Stimulation and Neurocognitive Psychology at Maastricht University, The Netherlands

COURSE # 005: Your Balancing Knack – Taking Care of Yourself along the Way

Facilitated by: Debra Dane Scholten
Course Begins: May 9, 2016
Course Length: 4 weeks, 1 hour per week
Fee: $99 US
To Register: http://charterforcompassioninstitute.org/courses/27/enroll

"Your Balancing Knack - Taking Care of Yourself Along the Way" offers definitive reasons why balance and self-compassion are essential components of enjoyable, busy lives. It doesn't merely offer a laundry list of self-care techniques. Instead, it acknowledges and addresses the root of the barriers for balance and self-compassion. Then, drawing upon Positive Psychology and the wisdom of the Masters of the Art of Living, Your Balancing Knack offers simple, unique, and customizable methods to implement today!

Debra's invitation to you: "Join us as we address ways for you to Embody Your Body, Emit Your Spirit, Empower Your Mind, and Embrace Your Balance. We will explore the nature of your needs and acknowledge the very real impediments you face in your pursuit of balance. I encourage you to ask me questions and offer comments along the way – books are great but we can engage in real conversation here. I promise you that I will be as responsive to your questions and feedback as I can be!”

Instructor Bio

Debra Dane is a Career Counselor, Vocational Rehabilitation professional, and a Training and Development consultant. In her current role as the Human Resources Director for a Second Chance Employer, she empowers individuals who face the challenges of re-entry, homelessness, and recovery. She continues to expand her knowledge of the art of living by supplementing her two Masters degrees in Counseling with the study of Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Yoga. Debra is the author of "Flow Forward: Find Your Way, Grow Resilient, and Enjoy Your Life."

COURSE # 006: Past Reality Integration (PRI): The Art of Living and Teaching from our Hearts in Love and Compassion

Facilitators: Gitta van Haagen and Renata Traas
Course Begins: September 1, 2016
Course Length: 5 weeks, 2 hours per week
Fee: $169 US, plus book

In five intensive multi-hour modules we’ll help you apply the instruments of Past Reality Integration (PRI), as developed by the Dutch psychologist Ingeborg Bosch. PRI enables and facilitates becoming aware of your behaviour in those situations when you can’t feel compassion, when the flow of your heart is blocked through feelings of fear, guilt, shame, stress, anger or indifference. You will learn to recognize these feelings and you will be offered clear and effective tools to lift the blockage and free up the flow of love and compassion. And what a difference this will make for you and the (young) people you work with!

The course is structured to cover:
• Introduction to PRI (Past Reality Integration): What is it and what does it have to do with compassion?
• Recognizing when the emotional brain takes over and our hearts are blocked.
• Getting access to the emotional brain - “cracking the code”, so as to be able to open up again.
• Reprogramming: opening up, time and again.
• Drawing up an Action plan to continue your PRI practice on a daily basis.

A lot of the work will be done in the time between the modules: You will carefully observe yourself and take time each day to examine your observations in a structured way. Students are expected to also purchase a book to be used in conjunction with this course: “Past Reality Integration: 3 Steps to Mastering the Art of Conscious Living” (Ingeborg Bosch) English version. The book is available in English and in Dutch and can be purchased as an e-book.

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