In the quiet expanse of Juliet Trail’s office, adorned with reminders of her global journey and commitment to compassion, the gravity of her mission becomes apparent. A Ph.D. holder in education with a specialization in emotional intelligence, Juliet is on a crusade, advocating not just for empathy but for a profound shift in our approach to self, others, and the environment. The linchpin of her revolution? Compassion.
“In just the past three years, 15 people that I know have committed suicide,” Juliet shares somberly. “The youngest one was only 12 years old.” Her eyes reflect the weight of the crisis she’s addressing — a crisis that starts at the core of how we treat ourselves, branching into anxiety, depression, and even suicide, and extending outward to impact how we treat one another and the environment.
“It’s time for a compassion revolution in our world,” Juliet declares, urgency woven into her voice. “And it is urgent that we act right now.”
Compassion, as Juliet defines it, is not just empathy. Empathy, she explains, is the capacity to feel another’s pain within ourselves, but compassion takes that capacity and transforms it into a passionate commitment to act in ways that reduce suffering and enhance well-being. And such compassionate action is not simplistic or naive; instead, it demands immense thoughtfulness, reflection, and courage to examine our behaviors and our choices, and to consistently behave in ways that do the greatest amount of good, for the greatest possible number of other beings.
“Too many change efforts are failing in our world right now because we’re not addressing the entire system, and because we’re not addressing them with compassion,” Juliet asserts, pointing to the deep-rooted nature of the issues we face.
The statistics Juliet presents are staggering, painting a vivid picture of the multifaceted impact of our collective lack of compassion. In America alone, 50 million people have mental health diagnoses, with 12.5 million cases classified as severe. Workplaces are not immune; 89% of individuals reported periods of burnout in the past year, costing the US a staggering 300 billion dollars yearly due to workplace stress.
“It isn’t only humans that are affected,” Juliet adds, expanding the scope of her concern. The environment is suffering too, with species facing extinction rates a thousand to 10,000 times higher than the natural rate. Climate change, she warns, could displace as many as 3 billion humans and countless other beings by 2070.
Yet, in the face of these grim realities, Juliet Trail offers hope. “There is a way forward,” she declares, her eyes brightening. Her solution lies in teaching mindful self-compassion, a practice she has shared on five continents. Compassion, Juliet asserts, can be learned and increased, offering a tangible way to improve mental health and reduce suffering, for ourselves and towards others.
With a background in emotional intelligence research in the workplace, Juliet has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of compassion in building positive relationships and mitigating workplace stress. Today, she collaborates with global organizations and initiatives, championing new forms of leadership and policies that address how we take care of ourselves, one another, and our environment.
“I dedicate my life to continuing to partner with leaders and organizations, to study this, and to decide how we can put compassion into action,” Juliet Trail declares with unwavering resolve. Her commitment echoes through her endeavors, aligning with her vision of a world transformed from the inside out.
As Juliet Trail invites us to join her in the compassion revolution, it becomes clear that this is not just a call to action; it’s a rallying cry for a fundamental shift in our collective consciousness. The urgency in her voice is not a plea for change but a demand for a revolution — a peaceful, yet powerful revolution fueled by compassion, to redefine how we navigate our internal landscapes, interact with one another, and care for the planet we call home.
From her tranquil home office, Dr. Trail’s journey to cultivate a compassion revolution in our world is already underway. And she beckons us all to join in, to use the profound force of compassion in order to build a world that works for all beings.
