This month Celebrating One is setting an intention to live our daily lives around the idea of living with compassion. Compassion is the ability to recognize with empathy the suffering of another and share the desire to help comfort or alleviate that pain. Genuine compassion is selfless and given freely without a demand. As we go about our daily lives, not only is it important to look at humanity through the lens of compassion but also ourselves. When we practice loving kindness in our own self-talk we are in a better position to extend that same compassion to others. To cultivate your practice of compassion this month try to replace the urge to be judgemental of the actions of those around us with the urge to understand how or why this behavior is happening in the first place. When we can look under the surface just a little deeper we may be able to see stories of pain or trauma that create ripples of reflection in our own journeys.
Helpful ideas to help you embrace the practice of compassion for yourself and those around you this month:
*Forgive and stop punishing yourself for past mistakes
*When you recognize negative self-talk, take a moment to write a mental or actual note to yourself as a friend. What would you say to a friend who is facing the same struggles as you? You deserve the same compassion and kindness that you would extend to a loved one
* Be an active listener. Part of being compassionate is being aware of it. Help those around you to feel not only listened to but heard.
*Extend a gesture of kindness or encouragement to someone. A warm smile or thought can go a long way.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion” -Dalai Lama