Part 2 of Surviving the Storm: Overcoming Trauma & Conflict About Global Warming

As yet another hurricane hits Florida in only a few weeks’ time, it brings up a few topics I think are critical to address.

• How can workplaces support people when they experience traumatic events?
• How do we navigate conflicting beliefs or opinions around major events like Hurricane Milton? Such as, what should people do, how they should feel, the existence of global warming (or the connection to severe whether) (or its impact on the world)?
• How do we make wiser decisions and interact more consciously with each other as it relates to these challenges and their aftermath?

Each of these topics on their own merits a more in-depth analysis and discussion, which I’ve provided links to if you want to dive deeper into these topics. 

However, for purposes of at least considering these critical topics and creating awareness, I will briefly address each of them in this three-part series.

NAVIGATING CONFLICTING BELIEFS & OPINIONS

How do we navigate conflicting beliefs or opinions around major events like Hurricane Milton? Such as, what should people do, how they should feel, the existence of global warming (or the connection to severe whether) (or its impact on the world)?

Anytime we experience a major event, everyone has their own thoughts and feelings about it and behaves differently in response. Responses range from apathy, desensitization, awareness, pity, sympathy, empathy, to compassion.

Many people struggle with understanding the difference between some of these reactions and how to consciously choose our own response (rather than react based on our past patterns).

• Awareness – "I know something serious is happening and why it matters."
• Apathy – "It’s not impacting me, so I am not going to think or care about it."
• Desensitization – "I see so many traumatic things all the time that I no longer am impacted by it."
• Pity – "That’s so terrible, I can’t believe what those people are going through, I’m glad it's not me."
• Sympathy – “I am so sorry to hear about what people are going through; it must be so difficult for them (you).” Shows care and concern but keeps emotional distance.
• Empathy – “I can’t imagine how scared and overwhelmed you must feel right now. I know personally how these serious experiences cause so much fear and overwhelm and how hard it can be." About emotional connection and shared feelings.
• Compassion – “I’m so sorry you’re going through this difficult time; I want to help. What can I do to support you or your family?” Involves empathy with action.

While no reaction is “right” or “wrong,” they each come with different challenges and consequences. One’s own reaction will have an impact on how they think, feel, and take action, including in their interactions with others. 

Let's look at a few examples of situations and how we might react or respond...

Judgement of People's Actions

As people share their personal experiences on social media, people in the comment section can be quick to pass judgement on people’s decision to stay or evacuate in response to the hurricane. While some respond with empathy and compassion, many respond with unhelpful or even hurtful judgement and criticism.

It's easy to pass judgement of others, especially when we want to absolve ourselves of having to take action or responsibility for our own actions. Responding with compassion rather than criticism, requires us to engage from a place of seeking first to understand and then respect the decisions and actions of others.

Criticism of People's Opinions

Adding complexity to this challenge is the connection between global warming and these increasingly severe weather events. While many scientists across the world and from various different backgrounds have come together to share the severity of the risks of global warming, there is still a significant body of people who deny its existence or minimize its impact.

As a result, global warming has become a controversial topic (often considered political) that creates conflict between people. This conflict is particularly challenging because the impact of global warming is devasting for many people like those impacted by these incredibly severe hurricane events.

A challenge like global warming requires the collective effort of people and organizations coming together to creatively, compassionately, and courageously identify and implement solutions. 

Therefore, it becomes a difficult topic to simply accept “everyone has their own opinion” like we might with other issues.

Responding Consciously

Before we can even begin considering how best to communicate with others, we must better understand these issues ourselves. Rather than jump into what I am going to do, I believe it’s critical to start by looking inward at our own current state and becoming more aware of our own perspective and experience.

For example, as you consider this crisis occurring right now, what do you know or think about it? What are you feeling about it? Why is it important? What do you identify with or sense to take action on? Notice what sensations your experience in your body and where they are located.

Consider asking and reflecting on the following:

• What do I really think, know, understand, or make meaning of about these issues?
• What do I truly feel, value, connect with, relate to, or find important about these issues?
• What do I deeply identify with, sense to take action on, need to feel safe or to do about these issues?
• What is the most compassionate, creative, courageous step I can take? Or me I can be when communicating with others?

By engaging in these self-awareness practices, we create a much deeper and more impactful understanding of our own experience and perspective. This equips us to more effectively engage with others and communicate on these topics in a wiser way.

LEARN MORE about global warming and navigating conflict beliefs.