Fears on increased empathy in mindfulness

[ADropOffTime]

Do the experienced people out there ever experience some emotional burnout? I read a study here.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014 ... meditation

"While mindfulness meditation doesn't change people's experience, things can feel worse before they feel better," she said. "As awareness increases, your sensitivity to experiences increases. If someone is feeling vulnerable or is not well supported, it can be quite daunting. It can bring up grief and all kinds of emotions, which need to be capably held by an experienced and suitably trained teacher."

I had this fear that mindfulness would create some kind of emotional empathy that I couldn't bare. It's what prevented me from trying out meditation in the first place. Meditation and mindfulness is what got me from having massive anxiety and obsessive thoughts the whole day to going back to the peaceful days of before. Meditation has huge benefits but there's something about this fear that almost wants me to run away from meditation.

I don't think I can stop right now when I've gone so far. Is there anything out there to ease my fears? Ways to manage the burnout you can feel from this kind of empathy? Ways to prevent it? Ways to feel compassion without feeling sadness? I've actually tried loving kindness meditation but stopped it for the mean time because I've experienced sadness during it and the second time, anger.

I've gone to the conclusion that I should practice non-judgment and non-striving for the mean time before trying out loving kindness meditation again. I don't know but would that be enough to prevent it? Anything else I can do? Should I try LVM now or do you think it's a good idea to wait? How do I know when to start again?

I prevent it by deliberately trying to avoid focusing emotions but still enough to be able to act accordingly which I find I'm able to do naturally even when I'm trying to focus on another aspect of a person. Any comments on this act?

[piedwagtail91]

Mindfulness is about being in the moment as it is.
I've not yet practiced a loving kindness meditation that didn't end in tears.
Connecting with emotions or bringing difficulties up in meditation is difficult and emotional.
trying to prevent things happening usually doesn't work as they keep coming back.
It's a form of aversion.
If you want to be with this difficulty with less ' pain' then it's probably better to not try to prevent it but to begin to accept it, to be with it, to experience it, but for very short periods of time, gradually increasing the time you spend with it.
Once you begin to get to know it then it's power will fade.
practice 'being' with whatever comes up in the moment.

[JonW]

What piedwagtail91 said.
I'd also like to add that I've never encountered anyone who has suffered any kind of "emotional burnout" whilst maintaining a regular meditation practice. I'd imagine it's a rare occurrence.
If that is a genuine fear for you, it might be an idea to do the 8-week mindfulness course with a qualified, recommended teacher, if that's feasible. Online courses are available. Just holler if you require a recommendation.
All best wishes,
Jon

[piedwagtail91]

What jon days about the course and teacher.
Best advice.