Our society has changed drastically in the past decade. Traumatic events are on the rise, our perspectives are increasingly divided, and tech’s evolution has replaced the art of being present with words and images on a screen. As a result, so many of us are ill-equipped to care for each other.
Inspiring Comfort aims to change that. We are mending a hurting world by teaching care and connection through the skill of comfort.
Inspiring Comfort, dedicated to cultivating human care and connection, is the pioneer in establishing comfort as a teachable skill. Our mission is to create a culture of comfort in our society. We are a social good company founded on the belief that today’s isolated, socially disconnected and hurting world demands we do a better job of caring for one another.
After years in international business development, it was both witnessing and experiencing trauma that led Founder & CEO Jen Marr to teach comfort and connection as crucial human care skills.
Watch the touching story of Inspiring Comfort’s origins.
Jen Marr is the Founder and CEO of Inspiring Comfort and author of Showing Up: A Comprehensive Guide to Comfort & Connection and Paws to Comfort. She has utilized her 30 years of experience in business, leadership development, and the healthcare industry to research, develop, and offer solutions to our current mental health crisis.
Ten years ago, Jen had a front row seat to the Sandy Hook tragedy and to the Boston Marathon bombing. She immediately began working in crisis response and recovery efforts. She saw first-hand the need for ongoing support for those who are struggling. In doing this, she realized there is a massive gap between people who are struggling and people who want to help, but don’t know how. This is when Inspiring Comfort was born.
Since then, Jen has been immersed in trauma research and developing programs that address this gap. Her work in the field of human connection has made indelible impact on the lives of countless people. She is passionate about furthering the science of human connection and has worked with researchers and thought leaders across the country to cultivate cultures of care through the critical life skill of comfort.
This movement is taking root in notable organizations including the White House Leadership Development Program, the National Suicide Lifeline, Georgetown University, Northeastern University, The New York Office of Mental Health, and the American Association of Suicidology.
Passions: I love to give a helping hand to “get people across the stream” per se. I've learned a lot by listening over the years and love to be there for those who need help, just like those who helped me over the course of my life.
Read Dave’s full bio here
Quote:
“You can’t be what you can’t see.” — Marian Wright Edelman
Passions: Using creativity and care networks to catalyze social change.
Read Kelly’s full bio here
Quote:
“To a certain degree, our entire future may depend on learning to listen, listen without assumptions or defenses.” — Adrienne Maree Brown
Passions: We are all creative people and that creativity can help connect us in ways we might not have ever realized.
Read Lauren’s full bio here
Quote:
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.” — Anais Nin
Passions: Offsetting rugged individualism with care, connection & comfort.
Read Katie’s full bio here
Quote:
“People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Passions: Walking with faith-based organizations, and training the trainers.
Read Mary’s full bio here
Quote:
“Broken crayons still color.”
Passions: Developing more effective teams, groups and organizations thru authentic connection.
Read Jill’s full bio here
Quote:
“In order to harness the power of diversity we must first compassionately connect.”
Passions: Creating visual comfort and designing for mental health.
Read Skye’s full bio here
Dr. David DeSteno is a professor of psychology at Northeastern University where he directs the Social Emotions Group, and author of “Emotional Success: The Power of Gratitude, Compassion, and Pride.”
At the broadest level, his work examines the mechanisms of the mind that shape vice and virtue. Studying hypocrisy and compassion, pride and punishment, cheating and trust, his work continually reveals that human moral behavior is much more variable than most would predict.
David is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and the American Psychological Association, for which he served as editor-in-chief of the journal Emotion. His work has been repeatedly funded by the National Science Foundation and has been regularly featured in the media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR's Radiolab and On Point, and USA Today.
He is the author of Emotional Success, The Truth About Trust, and co-author of The Wall Street Journal spotlight psychology bestseller Out of Character. He frequently writes about his work for major publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review, Pacific Standard, and Mother Jones.
David received his Ph.D. in psychology from Yale University.
Salt Lake City, UT
Why I Show Up: “Everyone is dealing with struggles and hardships that we often can’t see. I want to be able to show up for those in my home, my workplace, and my community. Making the effort to connect with those around us can make a difference.”
Rye, NY
Why I Show Up: "While I have a heart for others, like many, I can get stuck in inaction and hide behind distractions as an excuse for not connecting. Instead, I want to help create a world where everyone is known, loved, and equipped to show up for one another with small but meaningful actions over the long term."
Menomonee Falls, WI
Why I Show Up: “As an educator and researcher, my goal is to bring to light the very human, relational, and psychological health variables that are so important to learning and flourishing. It is imperative that greater attention in our schools and organizations is focused on supporting the well-being of both children and adults. How we support one another, show grace to one another, and interact with one another are all part of relationship skills that bring greater meaning to life, and build strong communities and cultures.”
Endwell, NY
Why I Show Up: “I Show Up to illuminate hope. I Show Up to hold space for organizations and businesses to have the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of creating work environments that motivate employees and aids in preventing burnout and loneliness in the workplace.”
Danvers, Massachusetts
Why I Show Up: “As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for more than 20 years, I recognize the access and affordability of counseling as well as the heightened focus on self-care have put the burden of getting help on those who are struggling. By inspiring and guiding the supportive care community of families, co-workers, coaches and educators, I can encourage others to develop their skills of comfort to reach in, in an effort to support those who can't find a way to reach out.”
Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Why I Show Up: “My mission in my work is to help create a sense of workplace well-being in my coaching practice with individuals and a culture that puts people first in organizations. I can think of no better way to do this than to create connections based on acts of compassion at a time when our nation's collective mental health is suffering. Especially for those who are in positions to lead others, I believe this is a call to action. We can no longer say: ‘It's not my job’.”
Great Falls, Virginia
Why I Show Up: “As a registered nurse with over 40 years of healthcare experience in caring for patients, I wanted to expand my ability to touch others and provide comfort to those who are hurting or dealing with many of life crises. Today more than ever this is needed in our challenging lives and cultures. If I can help make a difference in just one life, then the Inspiring Comfort training was certainly worth it!”
Acton, ME
Why I Show Up: “I show up because comfort and connection are essential components to suicide prevention, and because showing up for someone always feels like the right thing to do.”
Norfolk, VA
Why I Show Up: “Personally and from a distance, I've noticed the decline in the strength of our connections through muffled communication. Through passion, dedication, and heart, I guide others to understand our disconnect and coach simple methods of communication to connect on new levels that seamlessly lead to receiving and giving care with ease.”
Southgate, MI
Why I Show Up: “I Show Up because we live in a time when isolation and loneliness are growing and the skills of looking someone in the eyes and letting them know they matter is more important than ever. I Show Up with the intent to plant the seeds that are the skills of comfort and connectedness in an effort to help those in our community feel seen and cared for.”
Greater Chicago, IL
Why I Show Up: “I've personally experienced an unmet need for comfort and believe everyone deserves to be supported when struggling. I show up for others to inspire them to do the same.”
Greater Minneapolis-St.Paul Area
Why I Show Up: “I see Showing Up as the most effective leadership skill to lessen burnout, improve retention, and bring people together to do great things."
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Why I Show Up: “I believe we have the power to handle the growing pressures of modern life if we learn the skills of comfort and care. Together, we can create supportive care cultures where everyone can thrive and feel well and human again."
Washington, DC
Why I Show Up: “Humans are suffering as the chasm between connection and isolation widens. With comfort, I make a conscious choice to activate empathy and engage. Through comfort, my goal is to inspire hope."
Meriden, CT
Why I Show Up: “As a suicide loss survivor, I recognize the importance of not only providing support and comfort to those around us, but educating each other on how to do so.”
Chicago, IL
Why I Show Up: “In the past few years, I have realized that showing up for my clients and my team needs to include far more than winning legal arguments or fair employment relationships. The more I cultivate deep and authentic connections of genuine care and comfort, the greater impact I can have and the better my community becomes.”
New York, NY
Why I Show Up: “As a member of the infertility and pregnancy loss community, I am grateful to have the opportunity to equip maternal medicine professionals with the skills necessary to show up for their patients with care and comfort.”
Colorado Springs, CO
Why I Show Up: “I show up for others because every person on this planet deserves to be seen, heard, and treated like they matter to someone.”
Chicago, IL
Why I Show Up: “We spend a lot of time ‘at work.’ As a workplace leader or colleague, you can be the difference in someone's life.”
Jupiter, FL
Why I Show Up: “I show up because I know that when we (re)learn the skills of comfort, compassion, and connection, we can create workplace cultures where human beings are valued as much as human doers.”
Middlebury, IN
Why I Show Up: “The most impactful moments of my life were when someone pulled up a chair and simply sat beside me in my grief. That’s why I believe in the healing power of showing up for others.”
Sacramento, CA
Why I Show Up: “As a business coach, I’ve believe in work-life Jenga and the balancing power of positive relationships. If social connections can support our body, mind, and soul... let’s ALL learn to make showing up a lifestyle.”
Idaho Falls, ID
Why I Show Up: “Consistently feeling noticed, heard, and included brings meaning and motivation to life.”
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Why I Show Up: “I was born with a big heart that wants to lift the hands that hang down low. I believe charity is the greatest attribute and comfort is the greatest skill I can obtain in this life.”
Pevely, MO
Why I Comfort: “People are feeling more isolated, lonely, and depressed in our society. I want to be part of the solution in the comforting process: teaching others to comfort so they can be present with people in their lives.”
Houston, TX
Why I Comfort: “I love sharing with the HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division team these tools for a lifetime: how we can show up for one another, our community, and our friends and family.”
Washington, D.C.
Why I Comfort: “This work is so relevant to the epidemic of loneliness in America right now.”
Great Falls, VA
Why I Comfort: “The fact that we can teach anyone, even the most apathetic, how to have the tools they need to show up is inspiring.”
Indianapolis, IN
Why I Comfort: "In a world that is more lonely than ever, we need each other. We were made for connection and community."
Idaho Falls, ID
Why I Comfort: “By just connecting with someone and reaching out, I may be performing a life-saving function.”
Bend, Oregon
Why I Comfort: “As we emerge from the pandemic, we are experiencing many defining moments. I’ve certainly had mine, and know that I want to help others build full lives again with meaning and connection to others.”
Meriden, CT
Why I Comfort: “I have learned to show up for people in the way I needed people to show up for me. I am now confident that I now know how to be a consistent soft place to fall for the people around me who need it.”
Washington
Why I Comfort:
“My goal is to use my story, my platform, my training, to increase vulnerability and connection. My mission is to make people more ‘comfort’able with intentionally connecting with others.”
District of Columbia
Why I Comfort:
“I want to live in a world and leave a legacy of comforting others. I want to plant seeds that sprout, sparking a similar desire in others.”
Virginia
Why I Comfort:
“As more people really comfort one another, hearts are changed and I believe we can positively impact our world.”
Ohio
Why I Comfort:
“When we learn to comfort others – their pain and stress dissipates. They feel accepted and loved – we provide healing”.
Nashville, TN
Why I Comfort:
“I am so excited to bring these amazing teachings to the Nashville area with my Comfort Connections golden comfort dogs.”
Yardley, PA
Why I Comfort:
“I am excited to teach others in our community the critical skill of comforting others.”
Chicago, IL
Why I Comfort:
“The Inspiring Comfort lessons fit perfectly within the college consulting Curriculum as I prepare high school students for college.”
Newtown, CT
Why I Comfort:
“My life experiences to date have uniquely prepared me to help develop people’s skill to comfort those who need support and are hurting.”
Bylas, AZ
Why I Comfort:
“I’m honored and excited to use my life experiences coupled with the detailed Comfort training to teach the critical and reciprocal skill of human care and connection to all who desire encouragement due to living with hurt, loneliness and despair.”
Eldridge, IA
Why I Comfort:
“The Artist Vault Studio and Gallery is the perfect location to integrate art and comfort skills to my community.”
Washington, DC
Why I Comfort:
“We need to get more comfortable being there for those in need in our communities. When I discovered comfort is a skill that can be learned, the light bulb went on, and I got very excited to teach the actionable tools that Inspiring Comfort has developed to those in my community to help further develop the culture of human care and connection.”
Langhorne, PA
Why I Comfort:
“We need to help people in our community cut through the awkwardness of helping those who are hurting, and help them build and rebuild meaningful connections to family and colleagues.”
