Compassion and kindness – try it

In much of my reading and in listening to some of the most amazing people speak on life, the words compassion and kindness often arise.

In the past I would only  have thought them as words of which I knew the meaning however today through my work, realise the significance in terms of their application.

Compassion and kindness for oneself, others and the world is a critical factor in the recovery of our relationship with all that exists.

Without these, it is nearly impossible to stop a negative cycle in so many aspects of life today.

B. Alan Wallace, PhD in his book ‘The Attention Revolution, Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind’ suggests that with compassion for ourselves, our minds can be trained to provide us with an inner sense of well being.

One may ask how you can feel compassion or kindness to others who have hurt you in some way.

Any form of hurt is a result of a person’s ill state of mind or lack of awareness to live in another way.

This is so easy to come by – in fact we may all have been inflicted at some stage e.g. jealousy, resentment, self importance, self fulfilment or rage.

We often stay attached to the sensation of this harm from others.

For a moment, try to remove the attachment, the sensation or memory of it.

See the physical frame of that person – just as they are.

Search now for the compassion for that person for their inability to do it differently; compassion as a yearning for them to be free of the causes that led to this.

See the sadness in this.

Offer some compassion or kindness to this person who is possibly in need of it.

Often what they are not able to give is just what they need.

It does not make their act right nor the effects of their act any easier to deal with at the time.

It does however allow you to separate from the effects for a while.

It may be this state that has affected your own ability to live and be compassionate and loving with yourself or others.

The cycle.

Who knows, it may have been part of their cycle.

So your gift to yourself, others and the world is your compassion and kindness.

Interestingly a study conducted by Martin E. Seligman PhD as indicated in his latest book ‘Authentic Happiness, Using the New Positive Psychology to Release Your Potential for Lasting Fulfilment’has shown that acts of kindness scored higher in the self reporting of gratification than pleasure seeking hedonistic activities.

Don’t judge

The negative attitude, the negative state of people is an indication of a sabotaged mind – unable to take control and free itself or find perspective.

Don’t judge, it’s so easy to happen.

Support them. Help them shift gracefully from where they are to a place where they can reach the potential within them

Tricia LaBella