Many of us are carrying the weight of the world's suffering right now. How can we acknowledge the immense suffering around us, and our own—and still tend to our hearts, minds, and bodies in a way that keeps us grounded and able to take compassionate action?

This week, mindfulness teacher and author Wendy O'Leary shares a guided practice that offers refuge and reminds us of our real and loving connection to one another.

Wendy O'Leary, M.Ed., author and health educator, has three children's books and an adult book on self-compassion in families. She is a certified mindfulness teacher, parent educator, and self-compassion advocate. Wendy has expertise in teaching skills for emotional resilience to children and adults. Wendy's next publication, a card deck for children titled "Let's Grow Happiness," is scheduled for release in April 2026.

The transcription of this guided meditation will be online and in our app at Mindful.org next week.

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Show Notes

Find more from Wendy O'Leary here.

Go Deeper

For more guidance on how to hold and respond to suffering, check out these articles on Mindful.org:

• Where To Start When There Is So Much Suffering

• Breaking Generational Patterns of Suffering

• Bringing Mindfulness to Students Suffering from Trauma

• Addiction, Trauma, and the Problem of Being Present

And to get more practice being with difficult emotions and returning to connection, try An Interbeing Meditation for Connection and Understanding.

And more from Mindful here:

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