When Crisis Feels Personal

How to Respond With Mindfulness & Kindness

At the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence (WRC), we step into the lives of women whose lives are affected by very harsh realities: physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. Frequently, poverty, addiction, physical illness, mental illness, hopelessness, and confusion are accompanying challenges. To do this “stepping in” in ways that are helpful and respectful is our charge. Since WRC's beginning in 1986, we have moved through waves of change. We try to stay ahead of the curve, shifting to maintain our balance, perspective, and clarity of purpose. Our most recent evolutionary/revolutionary shift is one that welcomes mindfulness as it intersects with kind intention into our lives and our work. Our aspiration is to share what we have learned and how we have benefited to encourage those with whom we work to try these ancient ideas and practices for themselves. The ideas in this workbook are not new but have been spoken about and written about in many ways for a very long time by many men and women from around the world. We invite you to try them and see for yourself if any of what is written here is useful.